Spirit Blossom Orb, Lan An's Chamber
Back in his room, Lan An entered the Spirit Blossom Orb. Gazing at Bai Su Mei's serene, bare form in meditation, he smiled warmly. From his Black Skull Ring, he retrieved a pile of furnishings Chen Jiang had procured—crafted from rare, fragrant woods.
He set to work, arranging a grand bed, bronze mirror, tables, and chairs. Soon, the orb's interior resembled a lavish, cozy chamber, fit for comfortable living.
Satisfied, Lan An shed his tattered robes, donning the Immortal Lovers' Fate Robes. He climbed onto the bed, opened the System, and commanded, "Summon an Earth-Grade Water-attribute skill."
Keng, confirm designated summon of Earth-Grade Water Skill?
"Yes."
Skills varied widely. Some, like Spirit Fist or Spirit Bullet, worked with any spiritual energy, but their simplicity limited power and grade. Since acquiring the Mysterious Water Cauldron, Lan An craved a potent Water skill.
Keng, congratulations, Host, for obtaining Upper Earth-Grade Skill [Great Flood Kick]. Stored in System space.
"A high-grade kick technique!" Lan An's eyes gleamed. With Spirit Fist and the Earth Bear sufficing for fists, a kick skill diversified his combat arsenal.
With a thought, a jade token of Water Spiritual Energy materialized, rippling with a thousand surging waves. Lan An began studying it.
Upper Earth-Grade Skill: Great Flood Kick
Origin: Signature technique of Hai Hong Sect
Effect: Each kick unleashes a raging sea, forming massive waves to crush foes.
"Not bad at all," Lan An nodded, closing his eyes to study its mechanics.
Three Days Later
Mastering the basics of Great Flood Kick, Lan An opened the Lucky Shop. Seeing his Prestige Points, his jaw dropped.
Prestige Points: 63,269
"So many?" He laughed heartily.
"Days have passed, Young Master. Your fame has spread across Ling Wu City. Though not all believe, it's no surprise," Jin'er explained chirpily.
"Makes sense," Lan An mused. With Ling Wu City's million-strong population, even a fraction marveling at his Beast Arena feats, plus the arena crowd, yielded this windfall.
"Your… display at the Beast Arena earned 12,690 Prestige Points," Jin'er added, nearly making Lan An choke.
He'd bared himself to hide the Immortal Lovers' Fate Robes' defenses, passing it off as battle damage. The unexpected fame amused him. "Plenty of men envy my… assets," he thought smugly, proud of his "little brother."
Scanning the day's five items, his face fell—nothing worthwhile. "Jin'er, how many Prestige Points to refresh items?"
"1000 per refresh," she replied, her tone teasing.
"That steep?" Lan An groaned.
"Naturally! Refreshing saves time over waiting. It's fair," Jin'er coaxed.
"Fine, refresh," he relented, unable to change System rules.
Keng, items refreshed successfully. Deducted 1000 Prestige Points.
Five new items appeared. Lan An's eyes locked on an exquisite robe.
Rainbow Silk Dance Robes: Woven from rare Seven-Color Silkworm Thread. Middle Earth-Grade armor, defends against attacks up to Spirit Transformation. Female-only.
Price: 2500 Prestige Points
Without hesitation, he bought it, picturing Yan Ruo, Yan Hong Lian, and Yan Die Qing in it. Their beauty would eclipse goddesses, and the armor's protection eased his mind. Plus, he'd enjoy the view.
Keng, acquired Rainbow Silk Dance Robes. Deducted 2500 Prestige Points.
The remaining four items were lackluster. He refreshed again, costing another 1000 points.
"Hmph, rotten luck today," he grumbled. The new items barely reached Earth-Grade.
Stepping to Bai Su Mei's side, he kissed her forehead, then sat cross-legged beside her, whispering, "Su Mei, my lucky star. Sitting by you'll turn my fortune."
He refreshed again.
"Haha, knew it!" Lan An laughed, spotting two perfect items. He wanted to shower Bai Su Mei with kisses.
"Buy them, now!" He spent over 10,000 points with glee. I'm rich, I'll splurge!
Keng, purchases successful. Stored in System space.
A longbow materialized in his hands, nearly two meters, perfectly curved, shimmering like a galaxy with Big Dipper stars etched along it. Its translucent string, thin as cicada wings, was remarkably elastic.
Binding it with blood, its details flooded his mind.
Big Dipper Bow – Middle Heaven-Grade Artifact
Effect: Uses spiritual energy as arrows. In Spirit Transformation hands, it can shoot down stars.
"Haha, no Spirit Transformation here, no need for stars. Piercing enemy skulls will do," Lan An muttered, storing it in his Black Skull Ring.
Next, he retrieved a pair of silver-white boots with intricate black patterns, supple yet unbreakable even under his Third-Tier Body Cultivation strength.
Binding them, he learned:
Earth Battle Boots – Upper Earth-Grade Armor
Effect: Doubles movement art speed and foot-based skill power.
"Made for Great Flood Kick and Phantom Shadow Free Wander Step—perfect for me!" Lan An slipped them on. They molded to his feet, as if part of him.
Immensely pleased, he checked his points and gritted his teeth for one final refresh.
Keng, refresh successful. Deducted 1000 Prestige Points.
Proud Smile Mask – Upper Earth-Grade Artifact: 2800 Prestige Points
Beauty Nurturing Pill x10 – Upper Mysterious-Grade Pill: 5000 Prestige Points
Crimson Lotus Armor – Lower Earth-Grade Armor: 2000 Prestige Points
Jade Orchid Robes – Lower Earth-Grade Armor: 2000 Prestige Points
Dreamheart Robes – Lower Earth-Grade Armor: 2000 Prestige Points
"Damn, a fashion shop?" Lan An cursed but swiftly bought everything. His luck had soared, yielding treasures.
Planning their use, he murmured, "Proud Smile Mask hides my face from Early-Stage Void Refinement—mine. Beauty Nurturing Pills for Yan Ruo and the others, or future… charm offensives. Rainbow Silk Dance Robes for Yan Ruo, Crimson Lotus Armor for Yan Hong Lian, Jade Orchid Robes for Yan Die Qing, and Dreamheart Robes…"
Storing them in his Black Skull Ring, with few points left, Lan An paused his spree, saving for emergencies.
Smiling, he summoned the True Earth, causing his Spirit Earth Cauldron to quake. Stroking it, he recalled Qin Meng Ying's marred yet enchanting figure, whispering, "I won't let you down."
Releasing his suppression, the Spirit Earth Cauldron unleashed a fierce suction, pulling the True Earth toward him. Lan An closed his eyes, beginning to refine it, elevating his Earth Spiritual Energy's grade.
Southern Bing Tian Frost Continent, Yan Clan Territory
In a boundless land, the earth glowed red, as if molten lava simmered beneath. The air sweltered, defying the continent's perennial chill, with snowflakes a rare sight.
Despite the harsh climate, the region thrived. Bustling cities hummed with trade, and harmony reigned between mortals and cultivators—an anomaly in the cutthroat cultivation world.
This peace stemmed from one source: an absolute authority ensuring prosperity and equality. Under this rule, laughter echoed, and all—mortal or cultivator—lived as equals, content in a mortal paradise.
Outsiders dared not disrupt this harmony, knowing its architect: Yan Yue Qi, matriarch of the Eighth-Grade Yan Clan.
Yan Clan, Private Hot Spring Chamber
Steam filled an opulent, secluded room, where a wide hot spring lay strewn with vibrant rose petals. Two bare figures soaked within, their flawless skin and perfect curves faintly visible beneath the water, enough to drive any man wild.
"Sister, I'm so bored. Wonder what he's up to?" a youthful, melodious voice said, coming from a girl of fourteen or fifteen. Her delicate face blended girlish charm with budding womanhood, her lithe frame boasting modestly proud breasts.
The other, a mature beauty, exuded a sultry aura. Her rosy lips, flushed cheeks, and watery eyes mesmerized, her full, rounded breasts filling even the cleft between them. If the girl was a ripening grape, she was a juicy peach, ready for savoring.
Seeing her sister's wistful look, the woman smiled, her crimson lips parting. "Probably flirting somewhere, forgetting us."
"Hmph, he wouldn't dare!" the girl huffed, hands on hips, her tone more playful than jealous.
"Two years—short for cultivators, yet so long for us," the woman sighed, recalling their brief time with that man. A faint itch stirred below.
"Ugh, Mother's truly furious, locking us up this long. She won't even let us attend Ling Wu City's auction," the girl grumbled, her dainty feet splashing the water.
"Put yourself in Mother's shoes—could you not be angry? He got off easy," the woman said wryly. Yan Yue Qi's restraint, not probing Lan An's identity or flaying him, was uncharacteristically mild.
These were the Yan Clan's princesses, Yan Hong Lian and Yan Die Qing. Their "Mother" was Yan Yue Qi.
Unbeknownst to them, Yan Yue Qi had planned to punish Lan An but relented. Her daughters' rapid cultivation growth, and Yan Hong Lian's Strange Flame, owed to him. His gifts—Thunder-Fire Mysterious Art and Thunder Scepter—and risking a Strange Flame's refining for Yan Hong Lian earned her faint approval. Strange Flames were priceless, their benefits immense, and his selflessness softened her wrath.
"Let's not talk about him. Your… assets are shaping up nicely," Yan Hong Lian teased, eyeing her sister's budding chest.
"Really?" Yan Die Qing beamed, her hands instinctively caressing herself, proud of her growth from diligent effort.
"He clearly favors… ample chests. You're aiming to please him," Yan Hong Lian said, smirking.
"Pfft, nonsense! Not for him!" Yan Die Qing blushed, huffing shyly.
"Let me check," Yan Hong Lian said, her hand gently kneading her sister's breast.
"Mmm," Yan Die Qing acquiesced, her own hand exploring her sister's fuller, taut curves, marveling at their scale. Their free hands drifted lower, tenderly caressing.
Lan An's roguish, silver-eyed face filled their minds, fueling their mutual indulgence.
"Mmm, Xiao Nan, harder," Yan Hong Lian moaned, imagining him within her, her heart soaring.
"Hmph, feels so good, Xiao Nan, I miss you," Yan Die Qing whimpered, her lips quivering.
Their lips drew closer, recalling that secret chamber, their bodies trembling, fluids mingling with the warm water.
"Matriarch arrives!" a maid's voice called, startling them. They parted, hearts racing, eyes closed, feigning calm.
Creak.
The door opened, and a breathtaking figure entered, wreathed in golden flames that danced to please her. The air stilled, time seeming to freeze.
Golden Crow Void Flame – Fifth on the Strange Flame Ranking.
Faint thunder flickered in her regal phoenix eyes. Her voice, sultry yet commanding, rang out: "Bai Hua Blossom Sect's Saintess Ceremony approaches. You'll represent the Yan Clan as honored guests."
At "Bai Hua Blossom Sect," the sisters' eyes snapped open, exchanging a glance. A dangerous glint passed between them.
One name surfaced in their minds: Yan Ruo, his first woman.