"What's your opinion?" Yan Yue Qi raised an eyebrow. She held no attachment to the Yan Clan, her heart set on joining her daughters to build Lan An's harem and help him dominate the heavens. Yet, the audacity of Yan Ri and Yan Yang, usually timid in her presence, piqued her curiosity.
The two shrank under her gaze, her past dominance etched into their minds, making them avert their eyes.
"Useless!" a cold voice sneered.
Yan Wei Shang approached calmly, addressing Yan Yue Qi with indifference. "Senior Yue Qi, your achievements were built on the Yan Clan's resources. Is it not too much to abandon us now?"
"He's right!" The elders nodded, their gazes shifting. This woman had grown with the clan's resources; even if she stepped down as matriarch, she should serve the clan.
"Yue Qi, though you may not remain matriarch, you can join the Elder Hall and face our enemies," Yan Wu Chen said gravely.
The elders agreed. Yan Yue Qi's strength was undeniable—a war machine for the clan.
"Oh? My resources came from my parents' sacrifices for the clan, and as matriarch, I've done countless deeds. Are you saying I owe the Yan Clan?" Yan Yue Qi's eyes narrowed, her voice calm but sharp.
If Lan An were here, he'd know his woman was truly enraged.
"Big Sister's furious!" Tô Mị whispered, her lips pursed.
Atop a distant peak, two ethereal figures stood, their auras merged with nature, observing the Yan Clan's hall. Despite their veiled faces, their presence could drive men mad.
One, clad in tight purple robes, exuded allure. Her curvaceous figure, with a willow-like waist and proud curves, blended seductiveness with mature charm—Qin Meng Ying, the Hundred Faces Fairy.
The other, in white palace robes, had flawless skin and serene eyes like autumn lakes. Her slender form felt untouchable, inspiring awe—Tô Mị, the Hundred Flowers Fairy.
These dreamlike goddesses, one captivating, one aloof, stood together, unseen by the world.
"The Yan Clan's too much. Big Sister's reputation kept them safe, yet they discard her contributions," Tô Mị said, her voice like a breeze, frowning.
"Their greed knows no bounds. She's yielded, but they don't stop. Do they think she's a pushover?" Qin Meng Ying scoffed, her tone dripping with mockery.
"We should help. Even with her Void Refinement Perfect Stage, they outnumber her," Tô Mị urged, her white robes fluttering as she prepared to intervene.
Her recent breakthrough to Void Refinement Middle Stage, under the Mad Queen's tutelage, marked her terrifying talent.
"Wait!" Qin Meng Ying grabbed her, huffing. "Don't you want to see her full strength? That scoundrel Lan An spent so much time with her. I bet he gave her something powerful."
Tô Mị's expression turned odd. "Scoundrel and adulteress? One's your man, the other's our Big Sister!"
"Hmph, that's why I call them that! Sneaking around behind my back. Wait till he returns—I'll deal with him!" Qin Meng Ying crossed her arms, her chest heaving with jealousy.
She didn't mind Lan An with others, but Yan Yue Qi irked her.
Tô Mị closed her eyes, avoiding their tangled emotions, and nodded. "If Big Sister's in danger, I'll step in."
Qin Meng Ying shrugged seductively. She wouldn't have come if she didn't care. After Han Shen's secret message, she'd rallied Tô Mị to watch the drama. But if Yan Yue Qi faced real peril, she wouldn't stand idle.
Only Qin Meng Ying could defeat Yan Yue Qi.
Yan Yue Qi's retort silenced the elders. Her words were truth—they couldn't refute her.
She owed the Yan Clan nothing, but they refused to admit it.
"You can leave, but why take Hong Liên and Diep Tình? They're born Yan Clan, and they'll die as Yan Clan ghosts!" Yan Ri stepped forward.
"Scram!" Yan Yue Qi flicked her hand, sending Yan Ri flying like a broken kite, spitting blood.
Yan Wei Shang and Yan Yang shrank back, swallowing their words. This stage wasn't for the weak.
"You!" Yan Wu Chen glared, furious. Attacking his son in his presence was a slap to his face.
"Since when do juniors interrupt me? Is this the Yan Clan's future?" Yan Yue Qi sneered.
Yan Ri, gasping on the ground, was helped up by two elders, pleading with his father through his eyes.
Yan Wu Chen, reading his son's desire, took a deep breath. His recent Void Refinement Perfect Stage breakthrough fueled his confidence. "Leave if you must, but I have conditions."
"Oh? Interesting. Speak," Yan Yue Qi said, anticipating a reason to kill—her own supposed kin.
"First, you may go, but Hong Liên and Diep Tình stay. Hong Liên weds Ri, a rare genius. It's no slight to her," Yan Wu Chen said gravely.
"Diep Tình weds Yang!" Yan Di, the Second Elder, added, seizing the chance for his son.
Yan Yang nodded eagerly, giving his father a thumbs-up. Diep Tình was his goal.
Unnoticed in a corner, a young man, Yan Duy, son of the Third Elder, clenched his fists until they bled. He loved Diep Tình but lacked the status to speak.
Yan Yue Qi smirked at the first condition. "A first condition implies a second or third, yes?"
"No, just one more," Yan Wu Chen said, waving his sleeve grandly.
"Spit it out," Yan Yue Qi snapped, impatient.
His face twitched, but he declared, "As an Eighth-Grade Power, the Yan Clan needs a fitting Clan Treasure. The Golden Crow Void Flame is perfect. Hand it over, and you're free."
Yan Yue Qi's expression didn't flicker. The silence grew oppressive.
After a long pause, as the elders' breaths quickened, she spoke. "I risked my life for the Golden Crow Void Flame. Now you want it for the clan. What do you all think?"
She scanned the elders, seeking their opinion.
"Big Sister's giving them one last chance," Tô Mị murmured.
"I hope they don't choose foolishly," Qin Meng Ying sighed, fearing Yan Yue Qi's pain from betrayal.
"Great Elder's right!" the elders chorused, greed glinting in their eyes.
Why hadn't they thought of this? The Golden Crow Void Flame was too powerful to let her take.
"No, not Great Elder—New Patriarch!" Yan Di declared, gazing at Yan Wu Chen with admiration.
"Indeed, the New Patriarch's right. Yue Qi, sacrifice for the clan. Leave the Golden Crow Void Flame. Your daughters can benefit later," the elders demanded.
"Right, Hong Liên should offer her Purple Heart Burning Sky Flame too. I'll ensure she's rewarded," Yan Wu Chen promised.
"Excellent. Your unity pleases me. I rarely saw this as matriarch," Yan Yue Qi said, her tone deceptively warm.
But her next words chilled the clan. "So united, dare you fight me together?"
"Don't be reckless, Yue Qi! Your strength is formidable, but we outnumber you!" Yan Wu Chen warned.
The elders nodded, unleashing their auras.
"Let's fight. I'll see what you rabble can do," Yan Yue Qi said coldly. They'd given her reason to kill.
A waste to spare them.
"What if I join?" a frigid voice echoed.
A spatial rift opened behind Yan Wu Chen, and a figure stepped out leisurely.
"Brother Lan, help me subdue her, and the Yan Clan will be the Lan Clan's best ally!" Yan Wu Chen said.
"No problem. Together, we'll bury her here!" Lan Thanh Liet sneered.
Though the Lan Clan had relocated from the Ice Heaven Continent, Lan Liang left two plans. First, Lan Thanh Liet allied with Yan Wu Chen to seize the Yan Clan, making it a Lan Clan ally for their eventual return, also avenging Yan Yue Qi. Second, two dying Lan Clan Protectors, boosted to Void Refinement via a secret art, were sent to slaughter the Liu Clan in Ping An City. Success was ideal; failure was acceptable, as their lives would end within a month.
Slaughtering the Liu Clan would make Lan An regret living.
Lan Liang's schemes were flawless.
Yan Yue Qi's killing intent solidified as she saw Lan Thanh Liet. The elders' lack of surprise proved they'd planned this betrayal.
Her title as matriarch had become meaningless.
Another reason to kill without restraint.
"The Lan Clan? Haha, just mourning dogs!" Yan Yue Qi mocked, aware of their exodus.
"Still arrogant at death's door!" Lan Thanh Liet snapped, stung by her words.
A terrifying aura erupted from Yan Yue Qi, shattering the surrounding space. Her fiery red hair blazed like flames, her fury a slap to the elders and Lan Thanh Liet.
"Void Refinement Perfect Stage? Impossible!" the elders gasped, paling.
"When did you break through?" Yan Wu Chen demanded, his confidence crumbling.
"Must I report to you?" Yan Yue Qi sneered, done with talk.
White lightning and golden flames roared, forming two Heavenly Fire Hands that descended from the skies, cracking space.
"Thunder Fire Mysterious Art! Everyone, beware!" Yan Wu Chen shouted, his Inferno blazing, merging with a raging storm.
A dual-attribute cultivator of Fire and Wind, he unleashed "Raging Wind Inferno!" Winds fueled his flames, forming a fiery vortex that scorched the heavens, his Void Refinement Perfect Stage power unreserved.
"Falling Moon Ice Palm!" Lan Thanh Liet countered, summoning a sky of frost, forming an ice palm infused with Wood attributes for resilience.
Also a dual-attribute cultivator of Ice and Wood, he held nothing back.
The Yan Clan elders, knowing they couldn't face Yan Yue Qi head-on, formed the Inferno Cosmic Array under Yan Di's lead.
Boom, boom, boom!
As their auras clashed, the Yan Clan hall crumbled to dust, space collapsed, and cracks spread.
Clan members fled in panic.
The apocalyptic battle began.