Lan An lay still on the chamber's floor, his beloved Yan Ruo nestled lazily against his chest. Their heartbeats thrummed in unison, a silent symphony as they savored the rare warmth of their closeness.
Yan Ruo's delicate fingers traced circles on his chest, her voice a hesitant whisper. "Little An, your eyes…?"
Her words carried a tremor, each syllable laced with pain that set her heart racing, her chest rising and falling with emotion.
Knowing he couldn't hide the truth from her, Lan An offered a reassuring smile. "It's only temporary blindness, my love. Don't worry—I have a plan."
Unsatisfied, Yan Ruo's tear-filled eyes threatened to spill, her voice soft but insistent. "I want to know what brought you to this state."
Unable to deny her, Lan An recounted his past. He spoke of his childhood without spiritual roots, the torment he endured, and the cruel theft of his eyes. He omitted only the System's awakening and his transmigration, claiming instead that a mysterious sage had granted him a legacy, allowing him to fake his death and escape the Lan Clan to forge his own path.
It wasn't distrust that kept him silent. Jin'er had cautioned that revealing the System's existence would trigger its annihilation protocol, obliterating the confidant and even Lan An himself.
He couldn't risk losing her, so he concealed the truth.
As Lan An's low, steady voice wove his tale, Yan Ruo wept silently. Rising, she caressed the hollows where his eyes once were, her lips brushing across his face in a cascade of tender kisses, as if yearning to merge with him to soothe his pain and make amends for his suffering.
"The Lan Clan deserves death," she vowed, her voice fierce. "I, Yan Ruo, swear to make them pay for eternity."
Her heart ached with every word.
Clang! "Primary Clairvoyance Talisman nearing expiration."
The System's reminder echoed in Lan An's mind.
Only 24 hours had passed since he activated the Clairvoyance Talisman, yet his life had transformed beyond recognition—all thanks to the System.
Comforting his sobbing beloved, Lan An chuckled softly. "No more tears, my love. I'm about to see you with my own eyes."
Yan Ruo lifted her head, meeting his confident gaze. Her heart steadied, curiosity sparking. "How will you do it?"
Without answering, Lan An issued a mental command: "Initiate Heaven-Grade artifact summon, designating an eye-type artifact."
Clang! "Host confirms designation of Heaven-Grade artifact?"
"Correct."
Lan An had earned a Heaven-Grade artifact summon from the hidden mission for scheming against the Lan Clan. From the moment he received the reward, he knew exactly what he wanted, never once fretting over his blindness.
Clang! "Initiating Heaven-Grade artifact summon: 20, 19, 18… 3, 2, 1."
Clang! "Congratulations, host, for obtaining the Low-Tier Heaven-Grade artifact White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye. Temporarily stored in System space."
Lan An frowned slightly. His luck seemed lacking—this was only a Low-Tier Heaven-Grade artifact. Still, even a Low-Tier Heaven-Grade item was formidable.
With a thought, a round, silver-white eye materialized, its pupil cradling a crescent moon, exuding an eerie, otherworldly charm.
White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye
Grade: Low-Tier Heaven-Grade (evolvable)
Origin: White Moon Clan
Functions: Far-Reaching Clairvoyance, Weakness Detection, Soul Seizure
Note: Power amplifies under moonlight
A drop of Lan An's blood fused with the eye, its information flooding his sea of consciousness. Miraculously, the eye slotted into his empty right socket, as if it had always belonged there.
"See? I told you to trust me," Lan An said, his silver eye glinting as he grinned at Yan Ruo. With the Clairvoyance Talisman expired, he now gazed upon her with his own vision.
Yan Ruo stared, entranced. The eerie silver eye amplified his allure manifold, drawing her soul into its depths.
"Handsome, aren't I?" Lan An teased, planting a playful kiss on her cheek.
"Hmph, handsome my foot. You're still a one-eyed dragon," Yan Ruo huffed, her fingers brushing his empty left socket, her heart twinging with sorrow.
"Don't worry, I'll have both eyes soon enough," Lan An replied nonchalantly.
Pausing, he shifted topics. "Tell me about you. Who's trying to force you into marriage?"
He hadn't forgotten her desperate cultivation to avoid becoming a political pawn.
Yan Ruo shook her head, explaining, "My sect, the Bai Hua Blossom Sect, is a Seventh-Tier cultivation faction. Every generation, it selects three Saintesses from 100 core disciples."
"The Saintesses have a chance to become the next Sect Master, while the eliminated core disciples must marry geniuses from other factions if the sect demands it."
"This is a longstanding rule of the Bai Hua Blossom Sect, disclosed upon joining. There's no coercion."
Lan An's brows furrowed. "Political marriages?"
Yan Ruo nodded. "The Bai Hua Blossom Sect accepts only female disciples. These marriages strengthen the sect and forge ties with other factions."
She continued, "I'm an orphan, taken in as a child by my master, the Second Elder, who raised me as her own. I don't want to defy the sect or marry a stranger, so I strove to become a Saintess, which led to my reckless breakthrough."
"Is the competition that fierce? You were already at Peak Golden Core. Why weren't you confident in securing a Saintess position?" Lan An asked, intrigued. At just over 20, with dual spiritual roots and Peak Golden Core cultivation, she had risked everything to reach Nascent Soul.
"The sect's rule allows core disciples under 25 to compete for Saintess. I'm in my early 20s, younger than many senior sisters. Among the 100 competitors this time, two have already reached Early-Stage Nascent Soul. I felt the pressure and gambled on a breakthrough," Yan Ruo admitted with a wry smile. Her talent was exceptional, but she lacked years of cultivation compared to her peers.
Gazing at Lan An, she added with joy, "But you're my savior. Not only did you help me break through, but I also comprehended Mysterious Water. I'm now 90% certain of claiming a Saintess position."
Lan An nodded, reassured. He doubted a mere Seventh-Tier sect could boast peers surpassing her. Even in the Eighth-Tier Lan Clan, few under 25 matched her achievements.
As for Lan Yu, at 15 and Early-Stage Golden Core, he was hailed as the Lan Clan's top genius. His future was unpredictable, as the cultivation world was fraught with peril—many prodigies shone briefly only to perish.
Lan An harbored little personal hatred for his younger brother. The Lan Clan as a whole had mistreated him; Lan Yu hadn't directly targeted him. Still, Lan An vowed to reclaim his stolen eye—no one could take what was his.
Holding Yan Ruo tightly, Lan An knew she had her own aspirations, sect, and master. Asking her to follow him now would be unfair. He asked, "Where are we? I teleported here by chance and have no idea of our location."
Yan Ruo's body trembled. With their current statuses, staying together without overwhelming strength was nearly impossible.
Lan An bore a vendetta against the Lan Clan, and Yan Ruo was determined to help him exact revenge. To do so, she needed to become a Saintess, a steadfast pillar for him.
Taking a deep breath, she answered, "This chamber was my master's former seclusion site, near the Bai Hua Blossom Sect. The sect lies in the northern region of the Bing Tian Frost Continent, close to Han Bing City, the largest city under the Ninth-Tier Tian Shan Immortal Sect's domain."
Lan An tightened his embrace, seeking her fragrant lips in a tender, lingering kiss.
"It's time for me to go. You should end your seclusion too," Lan An said, wiping the tears from her eyes, his voice hoarse as he gazed into her red, tear-streaked face.
Yan Ruo clung to him, reluctant to part, before whispering, "You must come back to me."
"Rest assured, within two years, I'll come to the Bai Hua Blossom Sect to propose to you openly and honorably," Lan An declared firmly. Two years were enough for him to accomplish much.
Yan Ruo's heart swelled with joy. Shaking her head, she said softly, "The Saintess of the Bai Hua Blossom Sect will be sent to study at the Sacred Lotus Academy. In two years, find me there."
"Sacred Lotus Academy?" Lan An echoed, unfamiliar with the name.
Yan Ruo brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, explaining gently, "It's a prestigious institution on the Bing Tian Frost Continent, founded by the continent's top powerhouses to seek successors and nurture young geniuses for intercontinental competitions."
"Other continents?" Lan An pressed, curious.
Knowing his background, Yan Ruo wasn't surprised by his ignorance. She continued patiently, "We live on a planet called Yue Long Star, divided into four major regions: the Eastern Huang Sha Continent, the Western You Yuan Continent, the Southern Hai Zhu Continent, and our Northern Bing Tian Frost Continent."
Lan An's eyes widened with realization. He needed to learn more about this world—his predecessor's limited knowledge was insufficient.
"Alright, I promise to find you at the Sacred Lotus Academy within two years," he vowed solemnly.
Yan Ruo nodded tenderly. Two years hence, the Sacred Lotus Academy would hold its admissions. She longed for the day her man would dominate the competition and join her there.
Kissing her deeply one last time, Lan An reluctantly crushed a Minor Step Talisman. Near the Bai Hua Blossom Sect, he couldn't risk appearing with her publicly, so he teleported away.
"My husband, I'll cultivate diligently and clear all obstacles in your path," Yan Ruo murmured as Lan An's figure faded.
She lingered in the chamber, as if etching every moment into her soul. Then, her peerless figure turned resolutely.
"Lan Clan, you'll pay," she whispered, her voice ethereal, as the chamber returned to its silent solitude.