The collision hurled the Eight-Legged Desire Serpent's humanoid form into the cave wall, the impact reverberating. Though on the cusp of Seventh Rank, it faltered against two Golden Ranking prodigies. Yan Yue Qi and A Lian Ya, both capable of fighting above their realm, outmatched the serpent, which hadn't fully crossed the threshold. The Thunder Emperor Scepter, a True-Grade Treasure in Yan Yue Qi's hands, unleashed terrifying might. Without the serpent's exceptional scales, it would have been pulverized.
Lan An's expression turned odd. The serpent was formidable, but Yan Yue Qi alone could handle it. Why drag him and A Lian Ya along? "Yue Qi, what's your plan?" he transmitted, unable to suppress his curiosity.
"Hmph, don't ask too much. Follow my lead," she huffed, refusing to explain. Her body surged forward, the Thunder Emperor Scepter blazing as she unleashed Five Thunder Bombardment. Five violet lightning bolts illuminated the cave, crashing toward the serpent's head.
A Lian Ya, spurred by Yan Yue Qi's ferocity, let her competitive spirit flare. Instant Shift activated, her Green Breeze longsword conjuring a destructive vortex. Lan An, shrugging helplessly, formed a Cross Heavenly Flame, firing it with precision. Faced with the onslaught of thunder, wind, and fire, the serpent's eyes welled with despair.
Yet, its savage nature refused surrender. "You've provoked this serpent—die!" it roared, stomping its eight legs. The cave quaked violently, stones falling as it sacrificed its lair for an advantage. Seizing the chaos, it burrowed underground, its legs digging with terrifying speed. Emerging, it launched a devastating kick at A Lian Ya.
"Hmph, petty tricks!" A Lian Ya scoffed, her heroic aura undaunted. Wind Blade Heaven-Splitting Slash materialized a colossal blade of wind, shredding falling rocks to dust. This technique had once pushed Lan An; now, at full force, it repelled the serpent.
Flame-Thunder Golden Crow Break! Yan Yue Qi, impatient, fused two Strange Fires and two distinct thunders in her Mysterious Flame-Thunder Art. The Golden Crow, a blazing construct, tore through space, reducing all in its path to ash. "Caw!" its defiant cry echoed as it soared.
The serpent, reeling from A Lian Ya's strike, paled in terror. With a desperate boom, one pair of legs exploded, its tail spewing pink mist from two gaping holes. The mist enveloped the cave, weakening Flame-Thunder Golden Crow Break. Lan An's face flushed—his body reacted uncontrollably to the mist. "Yue Qi, what are you doing?" he cursed inwardly, realizing her scheme.
The serpent, undeterred, detonated another pair of legs, flooding the cave with more pink mist, countering Yan Yue Qi's attack. "Its strength lies in those legs, but your cultivation lags behind a near-Seventh Rank beast," Jin Ni explained. Lan An's Strange Fire, potent against toxins, faltered against this lust-inducing mist.
"Damn you, forcing my hand!" the serpent snarled, its power rooted in its legs, now halved by self-destruction. Known for their lascivious nature, Eight-Legged Desire Serpents stored their aphrodisiac aura in their legs, with stronger specimens boasting larger ones. This beast's pillar-like legs unleashed overwhelming mist.
"Kill it and get me back to Elf Island—I can't stand this!" A Lian Ya gasped, her face peach-red, her usual valor replaced by trembling desire. Her eyes flicked to Lan An, the only man present. Even Lan An's iron will wavered, his face flushed as the mist overwhelmed his defenses.
Yan Yue Qi, equally affected, glowed with a triumphant smirk. Her eyes shimmered with desire, her skin flushed, yet her plan unfolded perfectly. The spirit herb was a fabrication—her true aim was to force the serpent to release its mist, ensnaring A Lian Ya. During a prior encounter, she'd battled the serpent and left unscathed, later studying its rare traits. Knowing its mist's potency, she schemed to expand Lan An's harem, initially targeting the Elf Queen but settling on A Lian Ya when the Queen's strength proved too dominant.
For Lan An's sake, Yan Yue Qi spared no effort, calculating that his many enemies demanded strong allies. Heavenly Fire Hand! She pressed the attack, twin hands of thunder and fire descending with apocalyptic force. "You'll die miserably!" the serpent howled, its face twisted. Losing two pairs of legs halved its strength, yet Yan Yue Qi pursued it relentlessly, as if they were mortal foes.
With no choice, it leapt with its remaining legs, summoning the pink mist into two massive kicks to meet her attack. Boom! The clash shattered space, the serpent flung back, coughing blood. Against Yan Yue Qi's dual-thunder, dual-fire Heavenly Fire Hand, it was helpless.
"Finish it and take me back!" A Lian Ya panted, curled in a corner, her fragrant sweat glistening. Lan An swallowed hard, suppressing his urges. Stacking his palms, he conjured Harmonious Spirit Palm, aiming to end the serpent and its mist. He understood Yan Yue Qi's intent but disliked her methods. "Yue Qi, stop! I won't force A Lian Ya like this," he transmitted urgently.
"Back to Ice Heaven Continent, when will you win her otherwise?" she retorted haughtily, ignoring him. A Lian Ya, ranked 15th on the Golden Ranking, was an Elf and the Elf Queen's disciple. Her inclusion in Lan An's harem would bolster his strength without diminishing her status, as the Elf Queen could take disciples from outside Elf Island.
Yan Yue Qi's plan was flawless, leaving no room for error. Lan An's Harmonious Spirit Palm unleashed, its elemental fusion shaking the heavens. Even A Lian Ya gaped, wondering if she could withstand it. As it obliterated space, nearing the gasping serpent, Yan Yue Qi intervened with Flame-Thunder Golden Crow Break, targeting Lan An's attack.
Boom! The cave collapsed, revealing the open sky and vast sea. Yan Yue Qi's lips bled slightly—she'd held back to avoid harming Lan An, taking a minor hit. "Foolish woman!" Lan An's heart trembled, torn between anger and love.
"Self-destruct again!" Yan Yue Qi ignored him, charging the serpent with relentless strikes. A Lian Ya, bewildered, couldn't fathom why Yan Yue Qi saved the beast only to attack it again. "You'll die in ecstasy!" the serpent roared, detonating its remaining legs. A pink cloud engulfed them, their faces flushed crimson.
Seizing the chance, the serpent slithered away, gravely wounded. "Die!" A Lian Ya, eyes bloodshot, lost to the mist's influence, blamed the serpent. Drawing her longbow, she fired a domineering arrow with her full strength. Her archery, unmatched even by Lan An, pierced the serpent's heart. "My lifetime's desire will drown you in bliss," it cursed, dying.
With the serpent slain, A Lian Ya's mind collapsed. Her will faltered, and with a thought, her perfect form stood bare in the air. Like a cat in heat, she used Instant Shift to leap into Lan An's arms, her natural fragrance overwhelming. Before he could react, Yan Yue Qi's equally bare, mature form joined her, both women lost to desire.
Their lips vied for his, their bodies pressing against him, hands instinctively seeking his arousal. "Grr!" Lan An roared like a beast, his last shred of will guiding him to pull both women into the Spirit Realm Pearl. What followed would be a tempest of passion.