Chapter 155: Flames of Bonds, Defiant Hearts

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"Eight Desolations Heaven-Sweeping Flame?"

Echoing Jin Ni's words, Lan An exclaimed, his eyes blazing as he stared at the Strange Flame in his master's hand.

The flame took the form of massive azure wings, fiercely burning, composed of eight smaller wings—four on each side, left and right.

"Correct. The Eight Desolations Heaven-Sweeping Flame boosts the user's speed when deploying movement techniques. In its peak state, it can grow hundreds of zhang, scorching the skies and incinerating all creation—a Strange Flame with vast area-of-effect attack power," Qin Meng Ying said, taking a deep breath. She hadn't expected her master to possess such a potent flame.

However, her master's brutal fighting style favored raw destructive power over speed, making the Lava Titan Heavy Flame more suitable. Since cultivators could only refine one Strange Flame unless they had unique arts like Lan An's her master traded the Eight Desolations Heaven-Sweeping Flame for it.

Whatever the reason, Lan An was the one who benefited. The Eight Desolations Heaven-Sweeping Flame suited him perfectly.

Often facing group assaults, this flame would deter any mob daring to swarm him.

Grateful, Lan An reached for the flaming wings in his master's hand.

"Ah!"

Despite shielding his arm with Violet-Gold Sacred Flame, the Eight Desolations Heaven-Sweeping Flame's heat seared him, forcing a cry.

Before Qin Meng Ying could worry, he stored it in the Spirit Realm Pearl.

Both his master and Qin Meng Ying, being knowledgeable, recognized his advanced storage space and didn't pry.

"Alright, Little Nam, that was a fair trade. No need for thanks!" His master waved grandly, her phoenix eyes appraising him. "But I should give my little disciple a welcome gift. What do you want?"

Lan An perked up, thinking of forming the Great Sun Divine Physique. "Anything Master grants, this disciple cherishes! But if possible, I'd request a Fire Fusion Pill."

"Smooth talker!" Qin Meng Ying and their master snorted in unison, now understanding his charm with women.

His master held no judgment about Lan An's many wives, noting their exceptional talents wouldn't hinder his progress.

But at the mention of the Fire Fusion Pill, she shook her head regretfully. "I've no use for such pills, so I don't have them. But I've collected plenty of spiritual herbs over the years. Need anything?"

Lan An wasn't disappointed. The Fire Fusion Pill was for physique formation, so her lack of it made sense. He listed the ingredients: "Then I'd like Spirit Fusion Grass, Crimson Fire Essence, and Fire Ginseng."

He'd hunt a Fifth-Order Fire Beast's demon core himself, sparing her the trouble.

"I happen to have Fire Ginseng!" His master tossed out a thigh-sized ginseng, blazing like fire, truly living up to its name.

Lan An caught it, storing it in his ring.

"Meng Ying, got the other two?" their master asked her disciple.

Qin Meng Ying shook her head.

"I have Crimson Fire Essence!" a domineering, haughty voice declared.

Lan An jumped, his face lighting up as space cracked open.

A woman in a white battle robe, exuding mature, wicked charm, appeared the White Horse Battle Robe she'd taken from him.

Her black hair was elegantly pinned, regal and aloof, her alluring figure radiating intense magnetism.

Golden flames burned around her, accentuating her noble aura.

Such presence and beauty who else but Yan Yue Qi?

Their master, unsurprised, had sensed her approach.

Qin Meng Ying, however, huffed, her chest heaving, turning away.

Yan Yue Qi strode forward, space dimming before the beauty of the three women—especially one Lan An had been intimate with. He struggled to breathe.

Then, a shocking scene unfolded.

From Lan An and Yan Yue Qi, purple and golden Strange Flames burst forth, merging like long-lost lovers, catching everyone off guard.

"What's this?" Qin Meng Ying paled, shrieking, feeling the world spin, nearly collapsing.

"Meng Ying!" Lan An cried, forcibly retracting his flame, catching her in his arms, his face awkward.

Yan Yue Qi snorted, a blush tinting her cheeks. She bowed to their master. "Yue Qi greets Master!"

Their master grinned mischievously, nodding. Her keen senses had detected Lan An's Golden Crow False Flame, finding the love triangle amusing.

Lan An, holding Qin Meng Ying, gaped as Yan Yue Qi addressed their master. His jaw dropped—this was his most shocking day yet.

Sensing his confusion, their master laughed. "Including you, I have four disciples! You're their little junior brother, my final disciple!"

"Let go!" Qin Meng Ying, regaining composure, saw the flames' reaction and guessed their bond. Even a fool would understand.

"Meng Ying, hear me out!" Lan An refused to release her, holding her tighter.

"Second Sister, this Senior Sister isn't vying for your lover. Why so mad?" Yan Yue Qi flicked her sleeve, aloof.

"Then why are you here?" Qin Meng Ying snapped, her voice sharp.

"To visit my two daughters, naturally!" Yan Yue Qi said righteously, though her eyes occasionally burned toward Lan An.

Qin Meng Ying caught this, fuming until steam seemed to rise, turning to scold Lan An. "You lecher! Seducing her daughters wasn't enough? You bedded her too? Utterly shameless!"

If Lan An didn't see their strained bond now, he'd be an idiot. He glanced at their master for help.

Sadly, she lounged with crossed legs, licking her lips, reveling as a spectator.

Lan An gritted his teeth. What kind of master was this?

"Meng Ying, it was unavoidable. Without it, Yue Qi and I would've died without a grave!" Reluctantly, he recounted their ordeal on the Dark Origin Continent.

Qin Meng Ying's anger eased slightly. She turned to Yan Yue Qi. "Is he telling the truth?"

Yan Yue Qi shrugged, licking her lips seductively. "It's true, but the pleasure was divine. Afterward, I pinned him down for nearly ten days!"

"You… you two…!" Qin Meng Ying exploded, her Void Refinement Mid Stage aura surging, flinging Lan An away.

Condensing fire and thunder, she struck at Yan Yue Qi with the Thunder Fire Mysterious Art.

Yan Yue Qi smirked, waving lightly, dispersing the attack.

"You… broke through to Void Refinement Peak?" Qin Meng Ying gasped. Only such a level could nullify her strike so easily.

"All thanks to Little Junior Brother, hehe!" Yan Yue Qi laughed, radiant.

Qin Meng Ying's face flushed with rage. Their sisterly bond had always been tense.

Yan Yue Qi, the first disciple, was aloof and willful, never fulfilling her senior sister role.

When Yan Yue Qi graduated, Qin Meng Ying and Su Yan entered the Academy, bonding more with Su Yan than their eldest sister.

Both Yan Yue Qi and Qin Meng Ying shared fire and thunder attributes, with fiery, combative natures, clashing whenever they met.

Qin Meng Ying always lagged behind, not due to age but because Yan Yue Qi devoted herself to cultivation, while Qin Meng Ying roamed freely, meeting Lan An in Ling Wu City.

She'd only been mildly jealous of Yan Hong Lian and Ji Qing Ni, accepting them as juniors. But she never dreamed the man she met first would be claimed by her senior sister.

Overwhelmed with grievance, Qin Meng Ying's eyes welled up. A Void Refinement cultivator reduced to tears showed her deep hurt.

Lan An's heart ached. Staggering up, he wrapped his arms around her slender waist, whispering, "I'm sorry, darling. I'll spend my life making it up to you! Once you refine the Eight Desolations Heaven-Sweeping Flame, you'll catch up to her."

Qin Meng Ying huffed, softened by his care. She couldn't stay mad.

Compared to two years ago, Lan An was more commanding, his Dragon Immortal Sacred Canon condensing dragon aura, exuding irresistible allure.

His scarred face was artfully masked by his women, with hair swept over his blind, empty eye, revealing one white eye, wickedly captivating.

Qin Meng Ying sighed. After two years of longing, she wouldn't let her vexing senior sister ruin their reunion. Suppressing her anger, she leaned into his chest.

"Hmph!" Seeing their intimacy, Yan Yue Qi felt a strange sourness, snorting to brush it off.

"Little Yan, since you're here, meet your junior brother!" their master, bored of the drama, called into the void.

"Sigh, Junior Brother's prowess is unmatched, ensnaring our Hundred Flowers Sect's three saintesses and both senior sisters. Truly a calamity for women!"

With a sigh, a woman in flowing white robes, ethereal as a descended immortal, floated down.

Lan An glanced briefly, quickly averting his eyes.

She was too beautiful perfection that frightened him, fearing her allure might make him falter before his women.

Though Qin Meng Ying had mimicked her face, Su Yan's aura was inimitable.

Su Yan was a lofty fairy, her eyes clear as an ancient well, her skin smoother than flawless silk, untouched by dust. Her tall, luminous figure was strangely captivating.

Lan An wasn't shocked she was his final senior sister, as Qin Meng Ying's mimicry had hinted at it.

"Su Yan greets Master, Senior Sisters," she curtsied gracefully, her movements refined, peerlessly noble.

If Yan Yue Qi was aloof and haughty, Qin Meng Ying enchanting, Su Yan was pure and exalted.

Each was uniquely stunning, none outshining the others.

Their master, equally perfect, was too imposing to gaze upon long, near yet untouchable.

"Third Sister, you're mistaken. I didn't fall for his claws he fell for mine!" Yan Yue Qi tossed her hair, head high.

"Third Sister, why return to the Academy?" Qin Meng Ying, embarrassed, pushed Lan An away, changing the topic.

"To pay respects to Master and confirm matters with Junior Brother," Su Yan said calmly.

"Ask him directly about your concerns. I'm fine, no need for courtesies!" their master said lazily.

Lan An's mouth twitched.

The three women, accustomed to her casual nature, weren't surprised.

Su Yan suddenly fixed her gaze on Lan An, as if peering into his soul.

Lan An met her eyes calmly, his gaze pure, as if he were a true gentleman.

Su Yan's heart stirred. No man had ever looked at her without a flicker of desire. She raised her opinion of him.

"Junior Brother, with Xue'er already, do you intend to claim Mei'er and Feng'er too?" she asked softly, her voice like a gentle stream.

"Third Sister, you're mistaken. I genuinely love and respect them, never intending to possess or force them," Lan An said sincerely, meeting her eyes.

"Loving so many women don't you find it greedy?" Su Yan frowned slightly.

"How can love be greedy? My heart has room for them all!" Lan An thumped his chest confidently.

Qin Meng Ying and Yan Yue Qi's eyes glinted with something new.

"You know, staying with you, they can't become Hundred Flowers Sect Master, losing a bright future," Su Yan said gently, a trace of anger hidden.

"Losing their future? Sister, you're presumptuous!" Lan An chuckled, boldly declaring, "With me, they'll have a future a thousand times better than Sect Master!"

"Oh? Enlighten me," Su Yan said, her body trembling, taking a deep breath.

Lan An smirked. To their astonishment, he piled mountains of Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones onto the ground.

"First, with me, they won't struggle for cultivation resources!" He pointed at the heaps, smiling.

He didn't stop.

The Eight Formation Diagram, Charming Zither, Phoenix Blossom Robe, Charming Love Robe appeared.

Pointing at each priceless item, he said leisurely, "Heaven-Grade Eight Formation Diagram and Phoenix Blossom Robe for Yu Feng! High Spirit-Grade Charming Zither and Charming Love Robe for Mei'er!"

Pausing, he grinned at Su Yan's stunned, fairy-like face. "I've yet to prepare more. Can the Hundred Flowers Sect Master provide for them as I can?"