Chapter 144: Hearts in Turmoil

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Time crept slowly, the air within the Secret Realm growing ever more feverish.

Countless cultivators, their Points still shy of 1,000, fretted over failing the trial, frantically hunting beasts. Battles, great and small, raged without cease.

Some fell to beasts, forced to surrender their Tokens to save their lives. For them, the Academy reclaimed their Tokens.

Yet, prodigies confident in their prowess, aiming for the Sacred Lotus Ranking, sought out and challenged the top 50.

The 50 ranks shifted occasionally, but only the lowest tiers saw change.

Amid this frenzy, Lan An and his women lounged in serene contrast, savoring rare tranquility. From Trọng Vô Danh's storage ring, they drew gourds of wine, sipping together.

The wine of a Transcending Tribulation cultivator was no trifling thing rich, aromatic, it hastened the absorption of heaven-and-earth qi.

No one dared disturb them.

A coalition of over ten peerless prodigies, each of supreme talent, led by Lan An, the unassailable first-ranked, held such renown that none dared stroke the tiger's whiskers.

Yet, all knew this peace was fleeting a calm before a tempest's wrath.

Though miles apart, every cultivator saw clearly: ten radiant beams pierced the heavens afar, where elite prodigies gathered, indirectly confirming their suspicions.

Two factions, both assemblies of terrifying talents, could hardly be sipping tea and swapping tales. Only ghosts would believe that.

Many cultivators had crept closer, hiding at safe distances in all directions from Lan An's group, watching covertly.

They yearned to witness this epic clash, to broaden their horizons. Better yet, if chaos erupted, they might snatch scraps from the fire.

Lan An's conflicts with prodigies of major powers were no secret.

Those prodigies, each with their pride, wouldn't swallow such losses and sit idly.

Thus, sharp minds had deduced the likely challengers in Lan Yu's coalition.

Heedless of countless prying eyes, Lan An relaxed, chatting merrily with his women, inquiring about their recent trials.

Especially Ruo Xue and Liu Shi Qin.

Lan An's eyes glinted as they recounted their tales. He hadn't expected that, soon after entering the Secret Realm, a Blood Star Sect Saint Son had harassed them.

"Blood Star Sect, Mortal Hidden Temple, Lan Clan… you'd best all come at once!" Lan An sneered, battle lust surging in his eyes.

The women, meanwhile, clustered in twos and threes, chattering like songbirds, showing no trace of pre-battle nerves.

Not that they underestimated their foes, but they trusted their man, his absolute dominance at their level.

With such a steadfast pillar at home, what need was there for worry?

Hua Yu Fei, seeing these stunning prodigies blend so harmoniously, found it hard to believe.

Each woman was a one-in-a-million talent, yet none vied for supremacy. What charm or spell did this man wield?

"Big Sister, when did you and Husband start?" Ruo Xue pulled Su Mei aside, grinning mischievously.

Hua Yu Fei pricked her ears, curiosity piqued. She, too, wondered how her aloof eldest sister, who scorned men, fell so swiftly.

Su Mei, teased by the "head wife," pursed her lips, her face flushing hotly.

"We grew up together, and now share one man a perfect ending. Pity Second Sister…" Ruo Xue glanced at Hua Yu Fei, sighing dramatically.

"Hmph!" Hua Yu Fei huffed daintily, turning away, only to catch Lan An smiling at her. She flinched, like a child caught pilfering, and ignored him.

Su Mei caught Ruo Xue's hint, picturing three sisters wed to one man not so bad.

She recounted meeting Lan An, deliberately loud enough for Hua Yu Fei, painting him in the most heartfelt tones as the world's finest man.

Ruo Xue listened gleefully, giggling and praising Lan An's virtues, making Hua Yu Fei itch inwardly: Is he truly that remarkable?

Elsewhere, Liu Shi Qin whispered to Mu Bai Yin, occasionally glancing at Hua Yu Fei with appreciative eyes.

Mu Bai Yin nodded lightly, beckoning Bai Su Mei and Li Zhu Luan to join Hua Yu Fei.

Hua Yu Fei nodded instinctively in greeting, sensing something familiar about these three—their scent, as if met before.

"It's been a while, Second Saintess. All well?" Mu Bai Yin asked warmly, her mature allure slightly overshadowing Hua Yu Fei's youthful pride.

"Have we met?" Hua Yu Fei, forthright, cut to the chase.

"Heehee, has Second Saintess forgotten the term Harem Faction?" Li Zhu Luan giggled playfully.

"You three!" Hua Yu Fei gasped, her exquisite face lighting up.

Once, on a Hundred Flowers Sect mission, she and her sisters were ambushed by Blood Star Sect prodigies. As doom loomed, three mysterious women, claiming Harem Faction, saved her.

"Yu Fei thanks you for saving me!" Hua Yu Fei rose, bowing deeply.

Bai Su Mei gently steadied her, smiling softly, "Ruo Xue and Sister Su Mei are Harem Faction too. We're family—no need for formality!"

"Big Sister and Third Sister? No wonder you called Hundred Flowers Sect allies!" Hua Yu Fei realized.

But at "Harem Faction," her face flushed, glaring at Lan An. This man's audacity, naming his faction so brazenly!

"Harem Faction? Ling Er wants in!" Bing Ying Er, chatting with Yan Die Qing, overheard and raised her hand eagerly.

"Pfft!"

Her innocence sent the women into peals of laughter.

"Did Ling Er say something wrong?" Bing Ying Er blinked, flustered, rubbing her powdery hands.

"Silly girl, you did!" Yan Hong Lian laughed seductively.

"From the moment you joined us, Husband and we counted you as Harem Faction!" Liu Shi Qin said gently, exuding eldest-sister grace.

"Yay! Does Lady Lan Xi belong too?" Bing Ying Er's round eyes sparkled, utterly adorable.

"Of course! Lan Xi has her own palace in Harem Faction, and you will too!" Lan An nodded, grinning.

"Palace?" Su Mei whipped around, eyeing him.

"Don't worry, everyone gets one!" Lan An winked cheekily.

Su Mei smiled, satisfied.

Hua Yu Fei felt near madness. What are these women on about? Can't they speak plainly? I'm lost!

"Second Sister, curious? Join Harem Faction!" Ruo Xue whispered in her ear.

Hua Yu Fei jolted, shaking her head like a rattle, sensing a pirate ship's trap.

Liu Shi Qin signaled Lan An to seize the moment.

Lan An nodded, saying earnestly to Hua Yu Fei, "Su Mei and Ruo Xue are my treasures. As their sister, you're no exception. Harem Faction's doors are always open."

"Save your sweet talk! If I find you mistreat them, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Hua Yu Fei retorted haughtily, no easy mark.

"I swear on my life!" Lan An thumped his chest, meeting her gaze solemnly.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Ruo Xue pinched his waist, feigning anger.

Hidden onlookers, seeing Lan An banter with these peerless beauties, burned with envy, wishing to trade places.

But what could they do? His strength, charm, and wealth dwarfed them.

On a nearby peak, an elegant woman stood, biting her glossy lips at the sight.

Those women were too exceptional, stirring a pang of inferiority. Would he truly aid me for Nangong Yu's sake?

Unnoticed, a tall, handsome man appeared beside Nangong Wenyun, his lecherous gaze chilling her to the bone, like a viper's stare.

"Nangong Lie, why follow me?" she asked, eyes fixed ahead.

"I never expected my fiancée to make the top 50. I'm proud!" Nangong Lie shrugged, sneering.

"Fiancée? Laughable! Keep drowning in lust and clan schemes. One day, you won't even see my shadow!" Nangong Wenyun said softly, her eyes brimming with fierce confidence.

Seven years her senior, Nangong Lie once outstripped her in strength. But as Nangong Clan's Saint Son, he sank into debauchery, scheming against kin to cling to power, stunting his growth.

He'd barely scraped into the top 50 after Lan An ousted Lan Xin and Lan Xing.

In a sense, Nangong Lie owed his rank to Lan An.

Nangong Lie's eyes darkened. Following her gaze, he saw Lan An surrounded by beauties, envy flaring. He sneered, "You spy on that womanizer, yet call my indulgences depraved? Nangong Wenyun, you're absurd!"

"Compare him to you? Don't flatter yourself!" Nangong Wenyun frowned, whispering.

A perceptive woman, she saw Lan An's gaze on beauties held only appreciation and respect. Nangong Lie's, however, was a ravenous wolf's, repulsive and nauseating.

Lan An's chivalry toward Xiao Qingxuan would win any woman's favor.

Nangong Lie, in her place, would've kicked Xiao Qingxuan off the cliff.

Nangong Lie fumed but, knowing he was no match, swallowed his rage, sneering, "Let's see what that man and his women can do. Lan Yu's rallying elites to crush them!"

Nangong Wenyun's brow furrowed. She stepped to warn Lan An.

"Stop!" Nangong Lie blocked her, snarling, "Are you a Nangong or not? You're never this eager for family!"

"If I could, I'd rather not be Nangong!" Nangong Wenyun laughed bitterly.

Her clan, like the Lan Clan, valued power over blood.

Nangong Wenyun's parents, clan Elders with great contributions, died on a mission when she was young.

Her status plummeted, bullied by kin. Through sheer talent and grit, she mastered the clan's elusive Gold-Sounding Art, naively believing it earned her Saintess status.

Only later did she learn the Patriarch orchestrated it.

The Saintess must wed the Dragon Lord, and Nangong Lie had long coveted her. Her title was his ploy, deeming only a Saintess worthy as his bride.

As the Patriarch's son, rigging her rise was trivial.

Learning this, Nangong Wenyun despised her title, losing all faith in her clan.

When Nangong Yu saved her life during a trial, and was the only one to remember her birthday, gifting a precious Beauty Nurturing Ring, Nangong Wenyun truly saw her as a sister, valuing her words deeply.

Trusting Nangong Yu's claim that Lan An could help, Nangong Wenyun saw a chance to rewrite her destiny.

She owed the Nangong Clan nothing.

Wed to Nangong would trap her in the clan, squandering her talent and dreams, a puppet.

An ambitious woman, Nangong Wenyun refused to submit to fate.

Seeing Lan's women surpass her in brilliance, Nangong Wenyun steeled herself.

Transforming into golden light, she vanished before Nangong Lie's venomous glare.

Reappearing, she neared Lan An's camp.

Lan An looked up, eyeing the approaching woman.

Nangong Wenyun steadied her nerves, meeting his gaze boldly.

In that instant, time seemed to freeze.