"Husband, Seven Kills Cult dared to target you again. Shall we declare war?" Yan Ruoxue cut straight to business. Two Late Void Refining assassins daring to ambush her man had the Water Desolation Fairy fuming.
The women nodded in agreement. Seven Kills Cult lurking in Peaceful City like patient hunters—utterly detestable.
Lan An shook his head. "Killing two Heaven Assassins already vents some anger. I don't have time to settle scores with them right now."
In Seven Kills Cult hierarchy, Late Void Refining was Heaven Assassin rank. Taking two heads would make the cult bleed.
"Seven Kills Cult moves in shadows—hard to track. With husband's current status, the bounty on his head must be astronomical. Can the Hou Clan in Dark Origin afford that?" Ji Ya mused. Having worked for Heavenly Secret Pavilion, she knew a bit about the cult.
"Could the Flood Clan be behind it? Husband crippled Overlord Flood Emperor—maybe they hold a grudge!" Feng Yufeng guessed.
"Leave them for now. The harem's priority is to boost strength and self-protection…" Lan An said seriously, opening the Lucky Shop without hesitation.
Rare chance for the entire harem to gather—shopping luck couldn't be bad.
Fame Points had hit nearly 50 billion after the Hundred Flowers Sect dowry scandal. Marrying their four most beautiful flowers—jealousy was inevitable.
Lan An decided to spend big to skyrocket the women's strength fast.
He had 3 drops of Warm Blood Liquid left. He wanted more so the women could refine bloodlines ASAP to face the coming planetary crisis. Anything else good—he'd buy it all.
As expected, the women were his lucky stars. Within the first five items:
1 drop Warm Blood Liquid
Ice Flame Fusion Art – Layer 1 (Extreme Spirit Grade)
Ice Flame Fusion Art: Allows fusion of Ice & Fire attributes—stronger than Thunder-Fire Mysterious Art.
Lan An glanced at Bing Feifei with a smile and bought both without a word.
He kept refreshing.
50 billion seemed huge, but once he started spending, it vanished fast. Along the way, he grabbed Layer 2 of every woman's current technique—all True Grade. He bought everything.
Most techniques previously bought from the shop—like Bing Lin'er's Heavenly Ice Myriad Forms, Nangong Yuan Rong's Needle Control Killing Scripture, Ji Bing's Ice Water Exquisite Scripture—were only Layer 1. Progress was limited. Seeing Layer 2 at True Grade, Lan An didn't hesitate.
Only system-summoned techniques came complete—Hong Lian's Nine Yang Divine Art, the two mermaid beauties' Sea God Pure Yin Art, Su Mi's Nine Yin Divine Art, and his little aunt's Ice Moon Night Wind Scripture. For them, cultivation methods were set until the peak.
After who-knows-how-long, Lan An suddenly burst into mad laughter like a lunatic. The women's eyes lit up.
Yan Die Qing pounced into his arms. "Husband, did Master give us good stuff again?"
"Master?" Liu Yuqing, Bing Feifei, and the Lan Li/Lan Xuan sisters—newcomers—didn't understand.
"Besides Senior Wu San Niang, husband has a secret grandmaster—Senior Kim Nhi—who occasionally sends cultivation items!" Bing Lanxi explained with a smile.
The women nodded in realization. No wonder Lan An and the harem grew so terrifyingly—hidden backing!
Lan An grinned, nodding. Fame Points down to a few million—heartbreaking, but the haul was worth it.
"Feifei, this is for you!" He handed Ice Flame Fusion Art and the Warm Blood Liquid drop to Bing Feifei.
She froze. She'd only just joined—already a gift?
"Take it! Still want to be polite with me?" Lan An teased.
Bing Feifei took a deep breath. Her fate was tied to him. She accepted, her gaze softening.
"This is for you two—don't disappoint big brother." He gave Lan Li and Lan Xuan a jade piece with intertwined twins—mysterious and alluring.
"Big brother, what is this?" Lan Xuan asked, lips pursed. The jade strangely drew them, but they didn't grab it yet.
"Twin Cultivation Art – Layer 1 (Upper True Grade)," Lan An smirked.
"WHAT?!" The twins screamed. Raised in Sacred Spirit Academy, they knew Upper True Grade meant. Big brother was giving them treasure!
"Twin Cultivation Art requires twin siblings to cultivate together. I'm looking forward to its wonders!" Lan An's eyes gleamed.
"Ji Ya and Ji Bing sisters could use it too!" Lan Li said cutely.
"Husband gave it to you—take it. We have our own," Ji Bing said coolly. She rarely smiled at anyone but Lan An.
"Husband, if Twin Art forces the sisters to cultivate together, that means you have one extra palace on the second floor~" Li Zhuluan laughed mischievously.
The women burst into laughter. Indeed—one palace for both twins.
"Naughty girl, always thinking nonsense!" Lan An flicked her forehead.
"Thank you, big brother! We'll cultivate hard!" Lan Xuan accepted reverently.
The twins clenched tiny fists, eyes burning with determination.
Lan An was satisfied. Trust those you use; don't use those you don't trust. He hoped the twins wouldn't disappoint. Besides, the Lac Clan was no longer a threat.
He distributed Layer 2 techniques to the rest. Prices were low, but they rarely appeared. Luck was on fire—he bought them all. Only regret: no Pure Yin technique for Lian Hua, no Poison arts for his mother. He could only give apologetic looks.
"The shop doesn't sell items for special physiques like Pure Yin or Poison Body. Maybe after system upgrade!" Kim Nhi teased.
Lan An ignored her. He sensed Qing Quan exiting the Time Acceleration Formation and released her.
"Husband, Sister Meng Ying—I refined Five Spirits Pills! All five!" Qing Quan beamed.
"Peak Sixth-Rank Alchemist already? Not bad," Meng Ying said from Lan An's arms.
"Really? Thank you, Sister Quan!" Meng Ying's eyes shone. She took the jade bottle, gaze burning toward Lan An. "Husband, I want to forge the Five Elements Holy Body now!"
"Sit down. I have something important." Lan An pulled the eager Meng Ying down. She was becoming childish—always competing with Yan Yueqi, losing her elegant innkeeper poise.
Seeing his serious face, the women turned solemn.
Lan An took a deep breath and repeated Chen Jiang's warning—and the Empty Era from the Khao Clan seniors.
The women grasped the gravity. Hearts grew heavy. Mu Ziyin comforted:
"With Layer 2 techniques and bloodline refinement, the harem will be stronger. We'll adapt to anything!"
"With Water Desolation Battle Codex Layer 2, I'll refine part of my bloodline—Harmony Realm is within reach!" Yan Ruoxue declared confidently.
"We'll fully support the sisters' cultivation speed!" Hai Wu Ching said gently.
Seeing their unity, Lan An relaxed slightly.
"Husband, how many Warm Blood Liquid drops left after giving Sister Yueqi?" Ji Ya asked. She estimated three drops to refine her Moon Cold Bloodline.
"I had 3. Master Kim Nhi gave 19 more—22 total. All for you," Lan An said. Warm Blood Liquid was rare. After spending 50 billion, besides one new bloodline, he only got 19 drops.
"Leave allocation to Mother. Prioritize high-realm women—first Shui Niang Qing in Sea Continent and Ji Ya," Liu Yuqing decided. Low-realm women needed far more drops. With only 22, efficiency was key.
"Mother's right. Also, I want Qingzhu in Yellow Sand to refine her bloodline. With her strength, she doesn't need Warm Blood Liquid!" Lan An smirked confidently.
"Mother? What bloodline does my mother have?" Lian Hua jumped up, more excited than if she got a gift.
The women looked expectantly. Lan An grinned mysteriously, then whispered:
"Ice Phoenix Royal!"
…
Inside Spirit World Pearl – Meng Ying's Palace
"I'm ready!" Meng Ying took a deep breath and swallowed a Five Spirits Pill.
Lan An sat beside her, arms around her lithe waist. Knowing the pain she'd endure hurt him more.
"Fool, we chose this path. Afraid of a little pain?" Meng Ying kissed him tenderly.
Lips and tongues intertwined. Lan An pressed his beloved down. Moans filled the space.
After who-knows-how-long…
"When I exit seclusion, you might not be back yet," Meng Ying said contentedly, nestled in his arms.
"I'll return soon. You can't teleport to the Pearl from another star, so I'll leave it on Viet Long Star. If danger you can't handle—hide inside. Don't be stubborn. Your safety is everything, got it?" Lan An stroked her soft body.
"Without the Pearl, you'll be in danger!" Meng Ying worried.
"I have Master with me. What's to fear?" Lan An reassured. "Ready?"
"Do it!" Meng Ying sat cross-legged on the silk bed.
"System, grant Five Elements Holy Body to Meng Ying!"
"Keng! Five Elements Holy Body activated!"
From Lan An's body, five supreme spiritual forces erupted—Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth—forming apocalyptic disasters that slammed into Meng Ying. The entire Spirit World Pearl shook violently, space cracking.
"PFFT!"
Lan An's face paled, blood spraying as he flew dozens of meters. He hadn't expected a top-6 physique to be this terrifying. Palace Tree nearly collapsed.
"Kim Nhi!" he shouted in panic.
"Don't worry, Young Master. System will suppress!" Kim Nhi said seriously.
An invisible force surged from Lan An, enveloping Meng Ying's palace, containing the Five Elements Holy Body's terror.
Lan An was pushed out. He could only watch helplessly as his beloved was engulfed by five ferocious forces.
"To form Five Elements Holy Body, she must endure the five elements' heavenly tribulation. It's all up to Meng Ying's fate. You can't help," Kim Nhi advised.
Lan An's body trembled. Finally, he took a deep breath. He believed in his woman.
He flew down to the Crystal Palace.
Last thing before leaving: restore Kun Mingyue's mind…
…