"Indeed, the Earth Battle Grand Assembly, hosted by the White Sand Dynasty, welcomes all young talents of Yellow Sand Continent to compete!"
The Great Elder's silver hair fluttered as he nodded with a chuckle.
Lan An, without hesitation, asked, "Are the rewards worth it?"
The crowd's faces twitched, and even the Great Elder gave a wry smile. This youth was too practical, already demanding rewards upon hearing of the assembly.
Lan An had no time for frivolous events. If the assembly offered nothing substantial, he'd focus solely on the Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth.
"Of course, the rewards are enticing!" The Great Elder thumped his chest, laughing heartily. "Beyond powerful martial skills and cultivation techniques, the top three will gain three months' cultivation in the Imperial Palace's Scenic Land, where earth spiritual energy is a hundred times denser and purer than outside."
"Scenic Land?" Lan An's eyes gleamed. A place with earth spiritual energy a hundred times denser? It screamed Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth.
"Senior, I'm interested in this assembly!" Lan An rubbed his hands, feigning excitement.
The Great Elder nodded, smiling. "Let's walk and talk."
He turned, waving grandly. "Welcome the princess's return!"
"Welcome the princess's return!" The citizens roared in unison.
Bai Lian Hua returned to her carriage, escorted by the White Bird Legion toward the city. Trailing behind were Lan An and the Great Elder.
As they entered, a vast world unfolded before them.
Immense—terrifyingly so.
Calling it a city was an understatement; its scope rivaled several of Lan An's past-life metropolises combined. Towers, pavilions, and sand-crafted estates dotted the landscape, alongside pleasure houses, gambling dens, and noble clans' manors—nothing was lacking.
At the city's heart stood the Imperial Palace, opulent and towering, encrusted with shimmering gems. It anchored the realm like a divine pillar, its spiritual energy several times denser than outside, especially in earth elements.
Most structures were forged from white sand, glistening under the sun, exuding nobility yet harmony with nature. It was hard to believe such splendor thrived in the harsh desert.
"Worthy of a Ninth-Grade power, though my Spirit Realm Pearl isn't far behind," Lan An mused, recalling the Elf Island, Dwarf Island, and his encounter with the fox girl with the Heavenly Charm Bone.
Each power crafted its domain to suit its cultivators' needs.
The entourage drew fervent welcomes wherever they passed, but they pressed onward toward the palace, the dynasty's true heart of power.
The closer they got, the more Lan An's Five Cauldrons quaked within his dantian, forcing him to suppress their frenzy. The Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth was stirring them into a frenzy.
The Great Elder noticed Lan An's calm appraisal of White Emperor City. Unlike others from Eighth-Grade powers, who gawked with envy or caution, Lan An showed only appreciation, not awe. This elevated the Great Elder's estimation of him. Only those with vast experience, high status, or exposure to grandeur rivaling White Emperor City could act so composed.
As a seasoned old monster, the Great Elder recognized this.
"Senior, could you elaborate on the Earth Battle Grand Assembly?" Lan An asked, shifting his gaze from the city to the Great Elder with a smile.
"No problem," the Great Elder replied, grinning. "The White Sand Dynasty's ancestors were blessed by the Earth Mother, granted boundless resources to build their legacy. Most of the imperial lineage are peak earth cultivators, so the dynasty prioritizes earth elementalists."
Lan An nodded. White Sand Dynasty was a sea of white sand, its deserts brimming with pure earth elements, a paradise for earth spirit root cultivators. His Spirit Earth Cauldron thrummed with excitement here.
"Earth elements are the faith of every White Sand cultivator," the Great Elder said, hand over heart. "To honor this, every fifty years, the White Sand Emperors host the Earth Battle Grand Assembly, summoning young talents across the continent."
"Participants may only use earth attributes, regardless of other affinities, to emphasize the supremacy of earth cultivators."
The Great Elder paused, letting Lan An process.
Lan An frowned slightly. His Spirit Earth Cauldron was his weakest asset. Restricting himself to earth elements would slash his strength significantly, leaving him little confidence.
"All participants suppress their cultivation to Early Fusion Realm for absolute fairness," the Great Elder added with a sly smile. "The goal is to find the best earth elementalist, not the highest cultivator."
Lan An's eyes lit up. If everyone fought at the same level, his weaker earth mastery wouldn't matter as much.
Still, his earth-based martial skills were few, and most had been used publicly as Wen Lang, risking exposure of his true identity.
"Time to buy more earth skills," Lan An muttered to himself.
As he pondered, they reached the heart of White Emperor City—the Imperial Palace.
Approaching the towering structure, Lan An had no time to admire it. He was busy calming the Spirit Earth Cauldron, which raged as if sensing the Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth beneath.
"Welcome, Great Elder. His Majesty eagerly awaits the princess," a Refining Void eunuch said, emerging from the void.
The Great Elder nodded. "Your task is complete. Your Highnesses, follow this old servant into the palace."
"As you command!" Yu Chen and the White Bird Legion saluted, marching back to their barracks to report.
"Kid, I hope you've got the guts to join the assembly!" Yu Chen transmitted, his tone menacing.
"Shut up and scram," Lan An replied coolly.
"You—" Yu Chen choked with rage but, seeing the Great Elder's glance, swallowed his anger and left with the legion.
Lan An stood alone, feeling slightly out of place.
"You've no business entering the palace," the Great Elder said to Lan An.
"Haha, no worries. I'd like to explore White Emperor City anyway. I'll be at the assembly. My thanks to both seniors!" Lan An saluted the Great Elder and Lu Lao, unfazed.
"Brother, visit my manor sometime!" Bai Lie said with a squinting smile.
"My thanks, Second Prince," Lan An replied politely, ignoring the invitation, which irked Bai Lie.
As Bai Lian Hua stepped from the carriage, she caught Lan An's grin. "May the princess enjoy her family reunion. I'll protect you from the shadows," he said, soaring off.
"Family?" Bai Lian Hua murmured, cheeks flushing. She thought this man's obsession with protecting her was sweet, unaware her own Fusion Realm Peak strength rivaled his.
Lan An had noticed. A sixteen-year-old at Fusion Realm Peak? Her talent was monstrous. But even if she were Refining Void, he'd still protect her.
"This kid's loyal but a bit arrogant," Lu Lao remarked rare.
"A successor of that man. It's expected," the Great Elder nodded, seeing echoes of Zhong Wu Ming's youth in Lan An.
Without further chatter, escorted by the Great Elder and Lu Lao, Bai Lie, Bai Yang, and Bai Lian Hua entered the palace.
Lan An cleaned the blood from his body, donning fresh robes. As he roamed White Emperor City, whispers and pointing followed. His clash with Yu Chen had spread his fame.
He grinned inwardly. His Fame Points were rising steadily, even as Wen Lang, thanks to the System's mechanics.
Keng! Side Mission Activated: "Infiltrate the Palace." Success grants one Talisman Summon, one Pill Summon, one Spirit Herb Summon.
The System's mechanical voice halted his steps. He checked the details.
Mission Description: Infiltrate the White Sand Palace secretly. Investigate the sealed location of the Unique Earth.
"The System knows me too well," Lan An chuckled. Even without the mission, he'd planned to snoop around. The Scenic Land's connection to the Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth was just a hunch—he needed to confirm it himself.
Acting swiftly, he slipped into a secluded corner, entering the Spirit Realm Pearl. Removing the Wen Lang mask, he revealed his true face.
"Back to the academy yet?" A fragrant scent enveloped him as soft arms wrapped around his neck, ample curves pressing against his back.
Yan Yue Qi's radiant eyes sparkled as she grinned. She'd been about to tease Qin Meng Ying, her beloved second sister, with her recent progress—a favorite pastime.
Lan An gave a wry smile, recounting the recent events.
Yan Yue Qi stomped, fuming. "Such thrilling events, and I missed them? Infuriating!"
Lan An shook his head. A mother of two, yet still craving adventure.
"How are the others?" He glanced at the palaces within the Spirit Realm Pearl, missing his secluded companions.
"They're close to breaking through. None want to lag behind, pushing their limits before emerging," Yan Yue Qi said, impressed.
She admired Lan An's eye for talent. His women were not only gifted but driven—qualities of true powerhouses.
"Alright." Lan An didn't linger with Yan Yue Qi. A new human-skin mask appeared in his hand.
Grinning, he donned it, transforming into a handsome, fair youth. If Bach Hieu Sinh were here, he'd spit blood—this was his face.
"What are you up to?" Yan Yue Qi asked, intrigued. Her man was scheming something devious.
"Infiltrating the White Sand Palace," Lan An said with a smile.
"Exciting! I'm in!" Yan Yue Qi's eyes lit up, eager to join.
Lan An shook his head. "I'm just scouting secretly. This mask is a precaution. If a fight breaks out, I'll call you."
Yan Yue Qi pouted but knew the mission's importance. She sat beside him, watching.
Lan An didn't rush. Opening the Lucky Shop, he prepared meticulously for the infiltration.