A wave of over a hundred figures descended, the weakest at the Spirit Transformation stage, led by two young men. One was Lan Khanh, his face twisted with venom. The other wore imperial yellow robes and had striking red-white hair, radiating a noble aura. Unlike the typical coldness of Ice root cultivators, he emanated the heat of fire and the killing intent of thunder, a rare dual Fire & Thunder root user. This was the Second Prince of the Ice Profound Empire, Bing Phach, the very instigator behind the Empire's war on the Evil Emperor.
Lan An's gaze locked on Lan Khanh, his lips curling into a sneer: "The turtle finally crawls out!"
Bing Phach surveyed the ruined Lan Clan, which was supposed to be a pillar of his faction. If there is no justice here, how can I face my subordinates? Others will laugh at me.
"Lan An, is this how you 'visit' the Ice Profound Empire?" Bing Phach questioned, signaling Lan Khanh to calm down.
Lan An finally shifted his eyes, smirking: "Who are you?"
"You…" Bing Phach cursed inwardly at the feigned ignorance! He growled: "I am the Second Prince. You attacked in Ice Profound City, that is a crime! But for Third Sister's sake, if you settle things with the Lan Clan now, I will pretend nothing happened!"
"Second Prince!" Lan Khanh paled. This isn't thorough enough! Lan An can still hunt me later!
Bing Phach glanced at Lan Khanh, shutting him up. Lan An's arrival had exceeded their control. They had no plan, yet he had come knocking.
Lan An laughed. He had thought the Second Prince formidable, but he was just another childish fool.
"Lan Khanh's life, no one saves today. Not you, not even Bing Changkong!" Lan An said casually.
"Insolence! Insulting His Majesty?" Lan Khon and the Lan Clan members blanched.
Thud thud thud… A hundred Ice Profound Guards swiftly encircled Lan An, preventing any further kills.
"Lan An, are you an enemy of the Empire?" Bing Phach barked. No face was given; he was Third Sister's brother, after all!
"One Lan Clan represents the entire Empire?" Lan An sneered.
"Too arrogant!" The Lan Clan was livid. "Just one Lan Clan"? They were an Eighth Grade power!
"Big words!" An elder flew out, resembling Lan Khon, his body fused with heaven and earth. Lan Khon and the elders bowed: "Greetings, Ancestor!"
The Lan Clan Ancestor, an Early Body Integration cultivator, usually secluded, had emerged only for this crisis.
"Boy, don't think a strong backer lets you disregard all. Do you believe Senior Wu would let her disciple rampage without reason?" The Ancestor said deeply.
Lan An's eyes flickered. A Body Integration ancestor. That explains Bing Phach pulling the Lan Clan. Without him, Bing Dung couldn't flip the situation. Body Integration was overwhelming; Bing Dung and Bing Lan Xi were helpless. No wonder three clans dominated.
Lan An sneered: "Don't drag Master in. Do I need her for shameless trash like you?"
"You…" The Ancestor wanted to crush him, but couldn't. He glanced at Bing Phach.
Bing Phach nodded, gravely: "Lan Clan isn't the whole Empire, but a part of it. Destroying them offends all. Do you want the Rear Palace versus the Empire? Third Sister, Fourth Brother wouldn't wish that!"
"Hmph, Lan Khanh acted shamelessly, and you shield him. Is most of Ice Profound Empire like this?" Lan An mocked.
None countered. The past incident, though covered, had been publicized by Bing Dung's faction to tarnish the Lan Clan. All knew. Lan Khanh paled, his fists bleeding. If eyes could kill… yet he was powerless; his humiliation peaked.
"What do you want?" Bing Phach growled.
"Lan Khanh's life!" Lan An declared. Humiliate the Lan Clan and Second Prince first, slaughter the rest when Bing Dung ascends.
"Impossible!" The Lan Clan roared. Only the direct heir—sacrifice him?
Seeing Lan An's stubbornness, Bing Phach clenched his fists, rage boiling. He had never felt so useless! Where are Father and the elders? Do they fear the Rear Palace this much?
"Lan Khanh's life, no! But I demand the Lan Clan apologize, and compensate!" Bing Phach decided, this being his final tolerance.
"Your Highness…" Lan Clan eyes reddened. A provocation at their doorstep, then they must apologize and pay? Even the Ancestor trembled. But the old fox knew this was the best outcome.
Yet Lan An refused: "Compensate? Think I'm poor? Ten Lan Clans are not worth my glance!"
"You…" Bing Phach choked.
"Too much talk. Won't give him, I take!" Lan An gripped his Heavy Sword, used Instant Shift, and vanished.
He reappeared beside Lan Khanh.
"Audacious!" The Ancestor roared, becoming a lightning bolt. Body Integration speed was terrifying. He instantly caught up to Lan An's back, a thunder palm descending.
At the same moment, a flaming fist erupted from the void, a male laughter booming: "Touch Master? Ask my Fire Power first!"
BOOM…
Thunder palm versus fire fist, heaven quaked. Bing Phach fled in terror, his face ashen.
"Body Integration?" The Ancestor's arm was numb, staring at the newcomer. The rough man was towering, slightly stronger.
"I changed my mind. Today, not just Lan Khanh. Lan Clan, unnecessary!" Lan An declared. Play big, play thorough.
"YES, MASTER!" Fire Power (note: the rough man) roared excitedly: "Hellfire Fist!" Arms raised, fire spiritual energy surged, evaporating the blizzard. He punched the Ancestor's head. The Ancestor was bitter, forced to block, unable to save Lan Khanh.
"Lan Khanh, ever thought of today when you struck?" Lan An sneered, laughing. Three years ago, he was arrogant, an elite, a threat. Now, roles reversed. The scorned youth had soared; Lan Khanh was a helpless ant.
"Your Highness, save Khanh'er!" Lan Khon was pale; it was too fast.
"Raging Flame Fist, Thunder Might Fist!" Bing Phach blocked, his Heaven Grade Gauntlets—one fire, one thunder—blasted Lan An.
Penetrate Weakness was active, Heavy Sword infused with thunder flame, Earth Rupture domineered down.
Spurt… Bing Phach shuddered, blood trickled, reeling hundreds of steps in utter horror. Heaven Grade Armor and gauntlets, yet one sword overwhelmed him? The Gauntlets cracked. Late Void Refining was not enough for Lan An.
Repelling Bing Phach, Lan An looked amused at Lan Khanh.
Thud thud… Lan Khanh pissed himself, his knees buckled mid-air, wailing: "Young Master Lan, I was wrong, stupid to offend! Spare me, a great man ignores petty!"
The crowd was stunned. Several Lan clansmen fainted from shame. Even the Ancestor spat blood. The Lan Clan face was lost forever.
"Your Majesty, will you watch outsiders rampage our Ice Profound City? When were we bullied thus?" Lan Khon roared skyward, hoping for Bing Changkong, the Empire's justice.
Silence. The Imperial Family was letting Lan An settle this privately.
"ENCIRCLE!" Bing Phach stabilized, roaring. He must save the Lan Clan, his capital! A hundred Ice Profound Guards soared, trapping Lan An and Lan Khanh.
"Young Master Lan, move, we attack full force!" The lead general barked. A hundred Ice Blades condensed, murderous, aimed.
Lan An sneered, ignoring them. Heavy Sword raised.
"Young Master Lan, Ancestor Lan, spare me huhu!" Lan Khanh wailed, yet hidden hatred flickered in his eyes—he hadn't escaped the White Moon Soul Snatch Eye!
Killing intent exploded. Viper, fake remorse! Heavy Sword smashed mercilessly. Lan Khanh's head was pulped like paste. Spirit Transformation could not twitch under the aura. He was dead beyond dead.
"NO!!!" The Lan Clan howled, rage consuming reason.
Swish swish swish… A hundred Ice Blades shot, piercing winds toward Lan An.
"Hmph!" Lan An unconcerned, Eight Desolate Sweeping Heaven Flame blasted. Fire Law Ten Thousand Li, faster than the blades, evaded. He reappeared beside Lan Khon. Unseen, Invisible Thunder Lotus secretly formed and vanished.
"Revenge for your son? Come!" Lan An was calm. Earth Rupture full power, thunder flame roared, sword cleaved.
"Bastard, I'll kill you!" Lan Khon eyes cracked, heart shattered. Thunder Spear screamed, Thunder Monarch Sweeping Heaven met Heavy Sword.
"No chance!" Lan An activated Peerless Under Heaven, suppressing Lan Khon's aura. Heavy Sword brutally smashed the Thunder Spear.
"How so strong…" Lan Khon flushed blocking, his arms trembled.
"Die!" The Elders again used the Thunder Monarch Six Harmonies Seal, palm toward Lan An.
But a spine-chilling danger arose when an invisible lotus neared them.
BOOM…