Chapter 139: Still Missing a Battle Formation Master

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At Lan An's gentle words, Su Mei's eyes sparkled, pride swelling within her, though she huffed, "Put on some clothes already!"

Lan An chuckled, donning a white robe. Fortunately, his undergarments held firm, baring only his chiseled frame, not his "little brother."

Su Mei then linked her arm with his.

Now she understood Ruo Xue's feelings. With such an exceptional man, what woman wouldn't beam with pride?

Outside the Secret Realm, Bai Mian's eyes mirrored that sentiment, hidden from all.

"Seducing the Hundred Flowers Sect's Great Saintess—how long will this man's charm persist?" she muttered, biting her lip, a pang of resentment in her heart.

The onlookers were beyond words, eyes nearly popping.

Lan An's prowess was familiar, but his romantic finesse stunned them. In mere days, Great Saintess Su Mei clung to him?

Heavens, was he a saint of seduction?

Many youths considered apprenticing under Lan An to master his art.

Le Kang and Lin Tai's faces twisted with complexity. Their feud with Lan An wasn't deep could reconciliation be possible?

Within a mysterious space, aged figures showed excitement. This youth was the ideal disciple for many old monsters here.

Silently, each schemed to claim Lan An.

Yet…

"This old lady has her eyes on him. Don't even think of poaching!" A domineering female voice thundered into every old monster's ears, even reaching the Chief Enforcer Elder outside.

The fearsome elders' faces soured, tears unshed, cursing fate's unfairness.

"Granny, you already have three stellar disciples still snatching from us?" one elder wailed, his shout nearly collapsing the space.

"I like him bite me!" came her brazen retort.

The elders exchanged glances, swallowing their bitterness.

Against such a forceful woman, their combined might couldn't prevail.

Lan An, oblivious to becoming a hot potato within the Academy, left the scene with Su Mei.

Despite his outward nonchalance, a trace of concern stirred within.

A single Ice Mysterious Empire prodigy was so formidable. Even fighting earnestly, he couldn't inflict serious harm. If the other four were as strong or stronger trouble loomed.

These were merely prodigies under a hundred. The Empire's Golden Ranking talents far outstripped him.

From Bing Lan Xi, Lan An knew she was the Third Princess, full sister to Fourth Prince Bing Yong. Were any of the five Academy entrants Bing Yong's allies?

"Ninth-Grade prodigies aren't simple. Be cautious ahead!" Su Mei squeezed his hand, urging.

"Will you face them with me?" Lan An's eyes gleamed, gazing at her warmly.

"Mhm!" Su Mei nodded without hesitation.

"With you ladies by my side, gods or Buddhas blocking my path will fall!" Lan An grinned, brimming with confidence.

Unbeknownst, Mu Zi Yin, Li Zhu Luan, and Yan Die Qing had reunited, traveling together.

It made sense they'd been teleported to the same forest. Emerging, they chanced upon each other.

Mu Zi Yin's strength was formidable, her swordsmanship peerless, wielding the Extreme Heaven-Grade Purple Wood Sword. With the two girls' aid, their synergy was flawless, sweeping all opposition.

Their points neared 3,000 each a staggering feat.

"Senior Sister, I miss Husband so much!" Li Zhu Luan pouted, sighing wistfully.

"He's probably flirting somewhere!" Yan Die Qing mused dreamily.

Lan An: "Achoo…"

"It's been a week, and you two…" Mu Zi Yin was speechless.

All the women loved him, but none clung like these two.

Yan Die Qing, long separated from Lan An, craved his presence after their brief reunion.

As for Li Zhu Luan, once Heavenly Wood Sect's top beauty, admired by countless suitors, she'd remained aloof until Lan An bewitched her.

"He's a calamity for us women…" Mu Zi Yin muttered.

Mentioning him sparked her own longing for that rogue's face.

Her backside tingled at the thought—he was obsessed with it, always spanking her during their intimacy, stirring love and ire.

"Finally out!" Yan Hong Lian stretched lazily, her enticing waist swaying.

Bai Su Mei smiled brightly, gazing at the endless mountains behind them, where they'd seen no cultivators.

Only beasts upon beasts, fought until their hands ached.

Their points tripled the trial's basic passing threshold.

"Demoness, halt!" A voice interrupted their relief.

The women glanced over. A middle-aged monk in a saffron robe, bald head gleaming, glared at Bai Su Mei.

This monk had clashed with Lan An's group at the mysterious old couple's teahouse, sparked by his fixation on Bai Su Mei. Teleported to the Liu Clan, he'd fled.

"Who're you?" Bai Su Mei's question nearly floored him.

"Mortal Hidden Temple?" Yan Hong Lian's brows knitted, recognizing his affiliation.

"Amitabha, why associate with this demoness, benefactress? Step aside, let this monk enact heaven's will!" the monk intoned, palms pressed.

"Mortal Hidden Temple?" Bai Su Mei's eyes blazed with killing intent.

"Su Mei, what's wrong?" Yan Hong Lian asked, puzzled she didn't know him moments ago.

"At the Spirit Martial City auction, a Mortal Hidden Temple monk threatened Master!" Bai Su Mei's aura surged, explaining. She forgot her own foes but never Lan An's.

"What?" Yan Hong Lian's fury ignited, glaring at the monk.

"Demoness, your tongue spews lies! At that auction was Venerable Fan Kong, our esteemed monk how could he threaten anyone?" the monk retorted angrily.

"Monk, you brand Su Mei a demoness, yet ignore countless other beasts why not slay them?" Yan Hong Lian challenged coldly.

"Amitabha, no concealment—centuries ago, a revered monk of our temple, with his remaining lifespan, divined a future calamity. A century hence, a descendant of the ancient Star-Devouring White Serpent would ravage the continent, toppling forces, even forcing our temple's dissolution. Thus, I act for heaven, preventing tragedy!" the monk declared, palms joined. "This demoness aligns with that timeline!"

"Hmph, nonsense! Beyond the Heavenly Secret Hall, even Ninth-Grade forces dare not predict fate. What are your temple's monks?" Yan Hong Lian sneered.

"Besides, the cultivation world thrives on the strong devouring the weak. So what if a few forces fall?" she pressed.

"Benefactress, you're deluded. For your sake, I'll spare her this time!" Seeing Yan Hong Lian's resolve, the monk moved to flee.

He wasn't foolish enough to face two alone.

"Running? Star-Strolling Step!" Bai Su Mei wouldn't let him escape.

Her foot tapped the air, stepping as if on stars, closing in swiftly.

"Single Tail River Crossing!"

The monk wasn't weak, his body shimmering with golden light, crossing vast distances in a step.

Yan Hong Lian, seeing this, transformed into a crimson flame, pursuing with Blazing Fire Pursuit, the Yan Clan's movement art.

One fled, two chased, streaking across the sky.

Though the monk's Single Tail River Crossing was adept, it paled against Star-Strolling Step.

After half a day's chase, Bai Su Mei closed in, her Silver Star Twin Swords flashing, slashing: "Twin Swords Co-Destruction!"

An X-shaped sword aura enveloped the monk, who clasped his hands, chanting, "Golden Sand Protection!"

Golden light cloaked him, forming a sturdy saffron robe.

Clang…

Bai Su Mei's strike hit, the monk unharmed, but the Golden Sand vanished. Before he could sigh in relief, a chilling voice froze him.

"Blazing Fire Palm!"

Surging flames erupted from Yan Hong Lian's hand, a searing palm print blazing. The Yan Clan's flames were legendary the monk dared not underestimate it.

Spinning, his clasped hands parted, intoning gravely, "Great Power Diamond Finger!"

His finger gleamed gold, hard as steel, shooting at the Blazing Fire Palm.

Boom…

The finger and palm exploded.

"Harmonious Sword Art, Second Form Dual Swords Unite!"

Bai Su Mei's ethereal voice rang, her eyes star-bright, white hair flowing. The Silver Star Twin Swords blazed, slashing in unison.

Two fierce sword auras fused into one, slicing the air with chilling killing intent.

"Purple Heart Palm!" Yan Hong Lian, no slouch, raised her delicate hand. Purple flames burst forth, forming a domineering palm print, trembling the space.

This palm, adapted from Blazing Fire Palm, wielded Purple Heart Burning Void Flame, its power amplified manifold.

"Heaven-Grade sword art? Variant Fire?" The monk paled, frantically swallowing a shimmering golden pill.

"Green hills endure, clear waters flow. Today's karma, I'll repay another day!" he roared, transforming into a golden streak, speed peaking.

Despite Bai Su Mei and Yan Hong Lian's full assault, he escaped.

"What was that pill?" Bai Su Mei frowned, unwilling, asking. Knowing he was from Mortal Hidden Temple, she'd vowed his death.

Lan An's past anger lingered in her mind.

Her deepest hatreds were for the Blood Spirit Sect and Mortal Hidden Temple.

As for the Lan Clan, Lan An hid their cruelty, fearing her love would drive her to vengeful madness.

"That's a Golden Leap Pill. It boosts a Metal cultivator's speed tenfold, but at a cost his legs will be crippled for three days!" Yan Hong Lian explained.

Outside the Academy…

Bai Mian gazed meaningfully at Yan Hong Lian's purple flames, a flicker of envy in her eyes.

The crowd, seeing Yan Hong Lian wield the same Variant Fire as Lan An, was speechless. Even fools knew they were entwined.

They hadn't seen his Sun Crow Void Flame else, who knew their thoughts?

Leaving the mountains, Liu Shi Qin and Ruo Xue spotted a woman in a phoenix robe, hair flowing freely, her noble and proud demeanor striking.

Surrounded by nearly a dozen beasts, she remained aloof, hands weaving seals.

"Peach Blossom Formation!"

Her formation trapped the beasts, blasting them to gore.

"Second Sister?" Ruo Xue cried joyfully.

"Third Sister?" Hua Yu Feng, having slain the pack, looked weary but smiled at the familiar voice.

Liu Shi Qin quietly assessed the Hundred Flowers Sect's Second Saintess. Her display confirmed Hua Yu Feng's mastery of formations a War Formation Master.

"This is Sister Shi Qin!" Ruo Xue pulled Hua Yu Feng over, introducing.

Liu Shi Qin nodded, smiling, "Greetings, Second Saintess!"

"Hello!" Hua Yu Feng replied, her tone neutral.

Ruo Xue pouted, giving Liu Shi Qin an apologetic smile her senior sister was always so aloof.

Liu Shi Qin shook her head, unperturbed, musing, "The harem seems to lack a female War Formation Master…"