A faint sound of air being cut abruptly pierced the silence...

Mu Xinyue’s unusually tall figure suddenly appeared by the window, her arm shooting out to swiftly grasp Nie Kong's shoulder, pulling him back to the second floor of the inn. This transformation happened in a flash of lightning; by the time Nie Kong’s feet landed back on the floorboards, the nearest of the women was less than a meter away.

Mu Xinyue smiled faintly. "Sisters, that’s enough. If we keep playing around, it will become excessive."

"Well said, then we shall spare this young brother," the women surprisingly did not press further, merely blinking at Nie Kong with charming flirtatiousness before elegantly returning to their respective seats.

Just like that, they dispersed?

Nie Kong looked around, slightly astonished. Although the women surrounding him exuded seductive auras, their eyes filled with soft allure, gathering in small groups to whisper, occasionally glancing at him with heart-stopping laughter, there was no indication they intended to touch him. It seemed they had all curbed their intentions.

This huge contrast between before and now left Nie Kong utterly baffled.

Seeing Mu Xinyue sit back down, Nie Kong settled opposite her. Now that things had quieted, thinking carefully about what had just transpired in the city, Nie Kong realized that today’s encounter felt rather bizarre. This Nanzhao City was not Fengyi Town; upon entering, though many women on the streets had pointed and stared, none had made a move. Why were the dozens of women in this inn so bold? If all the unrestrained women of Nanzhao City were gathered here, it would be too coincidental.

"Hm?"

Lost in thought, Nie Kong’s heart suddenly stirred, and his gaze sharpened instantly, piercing through the side window like a keen blade toward the opposite side of the street. Across the way was another inn. The window on the third floor of that inn was covered by a curtain, and as Nie Kong looked, the drapery seemed to sway slightly. "That was close! He almost saw me!"

In the third-floor room of the opposite inn, a woman in pink patted her chest, playfully sticking out her tongue.

This woman was tall and slender, appearing to be around eighteen or nineteen. The long hair flowing down her back was like a waterfall of clouds, cascading smoothly down to her hips. Her face was exquisitely sculpted, charmingly delicate, with a slight baby fat coloring her soft cheeks, making her look incredibly cute.

Her figure was also perfectly proportioned—a little fuller and she’d be plump, a little thinner and she’d lack curves. Especially her twin peaks, which swelled just right, resembling two overturned jade bowls. Though pert and round, they were not overly ample, matching her slender, beautiful physique perfectly.

"Just as Xinyue said, this little fellow is indeed unusual. If other men in the Yin Ruins had faced that situation just now, they would probably have fainted from sheer joy."

The speaker was a young woman in white beside her, beautiful in appearance, yet her brow held a trace of world-weariness.

"Exactly! This is a real man! Granny, I’m claiming this man!" The woman in pink shook her small fist, excitement glinting in her beautiful eyes.

"Don't be so hasty," the woman in white chuckled softly. "This is only Nanzhao City. Qingying, you are a princess of the Yin Ruins; selecting a husband cannot be so casual. Let’s check other cities; perhaps there are better options. If you decide now, don't regret it later."

"No regrets, I want him."

Peeking quickly through the gap in the curtains towards the second floor opposite, Mu Qingying’s beautiful eyes curved into crescents. Smiling knowingly, she walked toward the door. "Granny, I'm going over there to take a look. Later, I’ll personally escort him back to Yinyue City. I believe Mother will like him too."

"Come back, come back," the woman in white quickly pulled Mu Qingying back. "You’re going to see him now, what are you planning to say?"

Mu Qingying grinned cheerfully. "Granny, it’s simple! I’ll just tell him directly that I want him to be my husband!"

"You silly girl, how can you do that?"

The woman in white shook her head helplessly. "If you say that, how is it any different from what they said when they were testing him? In the end, you won't get what you want, and worse, he might look down on you."

"Oh, right." Mu Qingying realized and anxiously shook the white-robed woman's arm. "Granny, then what should I say?"

The woman in white smiled. "Since you don't want to go to other places, let's return to Yinyue City first. Since Xinyue is following Mu Kong, he will certainly participate in your Heart Selection Ceremony and Grand Rite. Once he wins against the other men, you can take him as your husband, and everything will fall naturally into place."

Mu Qingying nodded happily, but immediately a hint of hesitation flickered across her rosy face. "But... what if he loses?"

The woman in white smiled faintly. "In Fengyi Town, Mu Kong sparred with Xinyue, and his cultivation slightly surpassed hers. Even the potent poison contained within his 'Thousand Stings Black Dragon Whip' couldn't affect him. How could he possibly lose to other men? Furthermore, he is a Spirit Pharmacist..."

"I understand!" Mu Qingying clapped her hands, beaming. "Anyway, the topics for the competition are set by us. We can just change the final topic to alchemy, which will filter out all the other men, leaving only Mu Kong. That’s wonderful, Granny, let’s go back to Yinyue City right now."

"..."

Unable to fathom the drastic change in the demeanor of the women around him, Nie Kong decided to stop pondering the issue. As for the gaze spying from across the way, Nie Kong didn't pay it much mind; the commotion on the second floor just now would easily draw the attention of the patrons across the street.

The next morning, Nie Kong and Mu Xinyue departed Nanzhao, continuing their journey toward Yinyue City.

The terrain of the Yin Ruins Mountain Range was rather peculiar, generally shaped like a gourd. The narrowest part, the waist, was only twenty to thirty li wide, and the terrain there was quite flat. Yinyue City was situated precisely there. Yinyue City was the largest city in the Yin Ruins, and the resident Semi-Spirit populace was said to number nearly three hundred thousand.

Ten mornings later, the figures of Nie Kong and Mu Xinyue finally arrived beneath the walls of Yinyue City.

Gazing at the towering city ahead, Nie Kong felt a slight surge of excitement. Mu Qingyi resided in Yinyue City, and his mother was in the Wood Spirit Palace behind the city. The Wood Spirit Palace was built atop the mountain peak; even from outside Yinyue City, Nie Kong could vaguely see the black miasma soaring toward the heavens in the distance.

"Mu Kong!"

A call echoing from afar pulled Nie Kong's consciousness back. Looking up, he saw Mu Xinyue had already descended the first flight of several dozen steps at the city base, waving at him from there. Nie Kong took a deep breath, suppressing the jumble of thoughts in his mind, and led his horse forward, his face showing no unusual expression. "Yinyue City is even grander than Nanzhao City, and the women living here are also somewhat different from those in Nanzhao City. This difference is mainly reflected in their attention toward men." After entering the city, although women occasionally cast curious glances at Nie Kong, that was all. He supposed it was because they saw too many men.

Nie Kong secretly breathed a sigh of relief; this situation felt much more normal.

Walking along, he occasionally spotted the figure of a man. These men were no different from those encountered in the Nanzhao City inn—all with faces thickly coated in powder, the standard 'pale-faced pretty boy' look. What surprised Nie Kong was that he saw an aged man in Yinyue City.

This was the first time Nie Kong had seen an elder in the Yin Ruins.

The man’s hair was white, and his face suggested he was around forty or fifty. At this age, in his previous life, he would still be considered in his prime, but in the Yin Ruins, the word "aged" could absolutely describe him. Moreover, judging by his sunken eye sockets and shaky legs, he seemed to have reached this state of exhaustion from excessive philandering. What made things even more speechless was that the old man was openly flirting and engaging in suggestive play with women on both sides right on the street, and passersby treated it as common sight.

"See him?"

Mu Xinyue smiled slightly and spoke with heartfelt gravity. "Mu Kong, that girl Piaopiao must have told you long ago that this 'Heart Selection Ceremony and Grand Rite' is actually held to recruit a husband for Princess Qingying. With your capabilities, your chances of passing the 'Heart Selection Ceremony' competition are extremely high, so you must work hard."

"The environment of the Yin Ruins is like this. If you fail to become Princess Qingying's husband, sooner or later you will end up like him."

"Impossible, right?" Nie Kong said doubtfully.

Mu Xinyue pointed at the old man in the distance. "This man is only in his thirties now. Although he couldn't compare to you back then, he knew restraint. He was much better than those men you met in the Nanzhao City inn. Because of his excellence, he was taken away from Yinyue City by two Cave Spirit seniors. When he returned here two years later, he looked like this. Do you know the reason?"

"I know." The reason was something even a fool could guess. Nie Kong shivered involuntarily, forcing the two words out through a slightly stiff mouth.

On the Heavenly Spirit Continent, unless one was an unparalleled genius, a Spirit Master would be at least a hundred years old upon reaching the Cave Spirit realm. Even if the women in the Yin Ruins didn't show aging, their age was real.

Being treated as a consort by two grandmother-aged women—that fellow was truly pitiful.

Mu Xinyue glanced at Nie Kong, then added meaningfully, "The powerful experts in the Yin Ruins prefer robust men, especially strong ones like you."

Nie Kong’s face suddenly paled. If he failed to become Princess Qingying’s husband, and if he didn't achieve his goal of getting close to Mu Qingyi, who knew when he might be seized by the top experts or powerhouses among the Yin Ruins women? Wouldn't his future life be worse than death?

"Cough, cough, that's unlikely, right?" Nie Kong said with a slight twitch of his lips, forcing a dry laugh. He suddenly felt a wave of sympathy for the men of the Yin Ruins. Even with endless indulgence, at least they could choose the young women they desired. Even if they were drained dry by them, it was better than hoarding abundant vitality only to be seized by old grannies.

"It’s not likely now; they still have some consideration for the Wood Sect. But after the Grand Rite of the Heart Selection Ceremony ends, if you haven't become Princess Qingying's husband, things might not be so simple." Mu Xinyue said solemnly, "Nie Kong, I am not trying to scare you with empty words. Many exceptionally gifted men have appeared in the Yin Ruins, but none were able to grow up in the end. I don't want you to follow in their footsteps, which is why I personally escorted you to Yinyue City. Do you know how many eyes have been watching you along the way? Especially after entering Yinyue City, the eyes watching you will only increase."

"Xinyue, thank you so much." Nie Kong was grateful. If Mu Xinyue hadn't accompanied him, no one would have known if he had been captured by some expert on the way to Yinyue City. The Wood Ancestor was truly senile; having lived for over ten thousand years, he still hadn't found a way to balance the sexes. More importantly, when sending him away from the giant tree, he hadn't told him about this situation. If he hadn't met Mu Xinyue, he might have been reduced to a stud before even reaching Yinyue City.

Mu Xinyue smiled. "Don't thank me; thank Piaopiao. Once you become Princess Qingying's husband, you won't have to worry about anyone making advances toward you. Then, take some time to visit Fengyi Town and fulfill Piaopiao's wish. That little girl has been rambling about wanting a child with a man since she was little."

"..." Nie Kong felt utterly speechless.

"Mu Kong, stop standing there looking dazed. You will be staying at this inn from now on. I will cover your lodging fees. There is still a month until Princess Qingying's 'Heart Selection Ceremony and Grand Rite.' During this time, if you have nothing else to do, practice your cultivation more; it will increase your chances of passing the competition." As she spoke, Mu Xinyue strode confidently toward the "Nongyue Tower" located slightly to the side.

"Understood!" Nie Kong took a deep breath and muttered under his breath, "I am determined to be Princess Qingying's husband!" Even if it wasn't for the several hundred thousand Semi-Spirits of the Yin Ruins, just for his mother sealed in the Wood Spirit Palace and for his own chance to awaken his bloodline, he had to secure the final victory in the 'Heart Selection Ceremony' competition next month. As for what he would do after becoming the princess's husband, he would have to take things one step at a time.

"Good!" Hearing Nie Kong’s low mutterings, Mu Xinyue nodded in approval.

Behind the Nongyue Tower was an exquisite courtyard. Nie Kong chose a quiet spot far from the street to stay. After delivering Nie Kong to the courtyard, Mu Xinyue departed. Nie Kong casually ate some breakfast at the Nongyue Tower, then left the inn to wander the streets outside. If he were to undertake such dangerous business in Yinyue City, Nie Kong needed to familiarize himself thoroughly with the environment. This way, if he ultimately failed, Nie Kong could find an escape route at the fastest speed, rather than scrambling around the streets like a headless fly.

Time slowly passed. Nie Kong wound his way toward the north of the city. By noon, Nie Kong reached the North Gate. From this location, he still couldn't see the Wood Spirit Palace, but the black miasma entering his vision was growing denser. However, the North City Gate leading to the Wood Spirit Palace was completely sealed. At the original entrance, there were four tall, female guards.

The moment Nie Kong showed any sign of approaching, eight cold, sharp gazes pierced him like swords. Fortunately, Nie Kong had no intention of heading to the Wood Spirit Palace today, so he inconspicuously slipped into an alley near the North Gate and slowly moved toward the center of Yinyue City.

On the way to Yinyue City, Nie Kong had learned that Mu Qingyi, after replacing his mother as the new matriarch, had built a new palace in the center of Yinyue City called the "Great Evolution Palace." This palace covered a vast area, with extremely high surrounding walls. From the outside, one could only see the nine towering spires rising within the palace walls. Exquisite patterns were carved on the tips of the towers. Bathed in sunlight, they shimmered with black light, faintly radiating a power that seemed to awe the spirit. Astonishingly, although the patterns were tiny, Nie Kong, even standing outside the palace wall, could see the markings clearly.

There were many guards outside the palace. To avoid arousing suspicion, Nie Kong merely walked halfway around the Great Evolution Palace before slowly returning to the Nongyue Tower in the south of the city...

The Great Evolution Palace.

In her pink boudoir, Mu Qingying sat quietly on a meditation cushion. A phantom image of a small pink grass floated out from between her eyebrows, growing larger and larger. In just a moment, the phantom enveloped Mu Qingying’s graceful figure, and dozens of slender leaves swayed gently.

"Qingying," a soft call sounded outside the chamber.

"Granny..." Mu Qingying’s sweet voice came from within the phantom. The dozens of leaves shrunk, and Mu Qingying's delicate body gradually reappeared. As the phantom completely merged back into her brow, her beautiful eyelashes fluttered slightly. Mu Qingying immediately opened her beautiful eyes and sprang off the cushion with some impatience, running toward the white-robed woman who had entered her chamber, beaming with joy. "Granny Jinzhu, has my man arrived in Yinyue City?"

Mu Jinzhu chided lightly, "What 'your man'? You're not even married yet!"

"It’s only a matter of time, anyway. Granny, has he arrived? Hurry and tell me!" Mu Qingying hugged Mu Jinzhu's arm and acted spoiled. Her clear, water-like eyes sparkled, displaying a look of entreaty; her pitiful appearance was extremely endearing.

"He arrived. He’s staying at the Nongyue Tower in the South City," Mu Jinzhu tapped her forehead playfully, though a hint of doting affection unconsciously crept into her eyes.

"Wonderful!" Mu Qingying covered her head and giggled. "Granny, I’m going to see him." As she spoke, she was already slipping toward the exit of the chamber, a faint rosy glow surfacing on her baby-fat cheeks, making her look even more tender and vibrant, tempting one to rush up and bite her face.

Mu Jinzhu quickly called out, "Qingying, come back! Have you forgotten what I told you in Nanzhao City?"

"I haven't forgotten, haven't forgotten! I’ll just sneak a peek and come right back. Granny, if Mother asks, don't tell her I went out, okay?" Mu Qingying waved her hand behind her, skipping out. Her long, flowing hair trailed behind her like a streak of dark cloud.

"This girl!" Mu Jinzhu looked somewhat helpless.

When the sun was only one person's height high, Nie Kong finally returned outside the Nongyue Tower. As he walked casually in, about to pass through the main hall to the courtyard behind, Nie Kong suddenly sensed that something was not quite right with the surroundings. When he left this morning, quite a few people were dining in the Nongyue Tower. Now it was evening; logically, there should be even more customers here for dinner, yet when Nie Kong entered, he saw no one, not even a single beautiful maid from the inn was in sight.

"Thump! Thump..."

Crisp footsteps shattered the silence of the inn. The steps landed one after another, light and distinct, like rain hitting banana leaves or pearls dropping onto a jade plate, possessing a strong rhythm. However, to Nie Kong’s ears, this sound was like a mighty bell or a clap of thunder. Each footfall landed on a critical beat of Nie Kong's heart.

"Step! Step..." Instantly, Nie Kong retreated repeatedly, his entire body's blood surging violently, seemingly about to burst from his veins, his face turning crimson. This sound was deliberately targeting him!

PS: I owe 1,000 characters today, I'll make it up tomorrow! O(∩_∩)O haha~