Chapter 156: Bonds Forged in Battle

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At Lan An's question, Su Yan fell silent.

Ripples flickered in her clear eyes, her glossy pink lips parting, unsure how to respond.

Because, as he said, the Hundred Flowers Sect couldn't provide such treasures for its disciples.

Hua Yu Feng excelled in formations, yet the sect only had the Peach Blossom Formation.

Su Mei mastered charm arts, but the sect offered little support.

Moreover, the sect's spirit stones, distributed monthly, paled against Lan An's mountainous piles.

The three women following him wouldn't suffer their rankings on the Sacred Lotus List proved it.

Before coming, Su Yan had met Su Mei, knowing her disciple genuinely loved this junior brother. She couldn't break them apart.

Qin Meng Ying and Yan Yue Qi exchanged quiet glances, astonishment in their eyes. They hadn't realized his wealth.

Their master, beaming shamelessly, laughed, "Little disciple, you're loaded! You'll provide for your old lady henceforth!"

Lan An nearly stumbled but nodded confidently.

Seeing Su Yan's daze, Lan An felt guilty for overdoing it. He softened, "Third Sister, I only meant to show they'll have a future with me, not to sever their ties with the Hundred Flowers Sect. They were raised by the sect I'm grateful and see it as my home too."

"Besides, the rule barring sect master successors from marrying is outdated. You could consider abolishing it!"

Su Yan took a deep breath, glancing at her senior sisters without replying.

No wonder, after a short absence, her sisters' cultivation had soared, while she remained at Void Refinement Early Stage.

It all tied to this man. Who was he?

For the first time, the aloof Su Yan grew curious about a man.

Their master, eyeing her four disciples, dropped a bombshell, "Once Little Nam reaches Void Refinement, I'll marry all three of you to him, fulfilling my duty!"

"Pfft!" Lan An spat, giving his master a thumbs-up, finding her oddly endearing.

Unlike his reaction, the three sisters blushed like ripe peaches, protesting.

"Master, what nonsense? Why include them?" Qin Meng Ying huffed, implying only she should marry.

"We agreed: within ten years, if his strength surpasses mine, I'll offer myself without marriage. But that's a pipe dream," Yan Yue Qi smirked, supremely confident.

Su Yan, fuming, stomped her foot, her icy demeanor cracking. "What's it got to do with me?"

"Why not? Keep the wealth in the family! Your junior brother's a tycoon—marry him for a carefree life of luxury. With his talent, reaching Void Refinement will let him handle you all, preventing harem fires. I won't need to worry about you girls!" their master said smugly, legs swinging.

"Void Refinement to tame us?" Yan Yue Qi scoffed, unconvinced.

With her pride, how could she accept being outdone by such a gap? She was Void Refinement Peak!

"Don't believe me? Fight him and see if my eye's sharp!" their master taunted.

Lan An rubbed his temples, exasperated. What kind of master instigated disciple brawls?

Qin Meng Ying and Su Yan exchanged grave looks. Though they disliked Yan Yue Qi, they acknowledged her near-invincibility at her level. Their master's high praise for Lan An couldn't be ignored.

"Fight then! I'll suppress my cultivation to Late Nascent Soul," Yan Yue Qi said haughtily, her battle intent flaring as she lowered her realm to match Lan An.

"You really want to fight me? Don't cry if you lose!" Lan An teased, seizing a rare chance to needle the domineering woman.

"Hmph, don't disappoint me!" Yan Yue Qi, teased by a man for the first time, felt a thrill, flashing a radiant smile.

They soared into the sky, locking eyes.

Their master, Qin Meng Ying, and Su Yan watched silently, eager to see Lan An's true strength.

They trusted Yan Yue Qi's power would force him to go all out.

"Ladies first!" Lan An, ever gallant, offered her the opening move in their spar.

"Don't regret it! Golden Crow Claw!"

Yan Yue Qi shouted, her jade hands rising. Golden Strange Flame formed ferocious claws, and with a flash of movement, she lunged at Lan An's torso.

Lan An's heart warmed. Such a lethal strike could've targeted his head, but she aimed for his body, holding back slightly.

Still, he'd make her go all out.

Wood Form Fist Great Flood Kick!"

Facing her fiery claws, Lan An unleashed two close-combat techniques.

Weakness Pierce activated, pinpointing her claws for his counter.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Fist met claw, kick met claw.

They clashed mid-air, Yan Yue Qi's Golden Crow False Flame proving formidable. Her claws alone matched his combined fists and kicks.

"Oh? Mutated Wood and Mysterious Water!" Yan Yue Qi smirked, intrigued.

His Mutated Wood absorbed some of her flame's power, while his Mysterious Water formed raging waves, barely defending against her flame's might.

But the Golden Crow False Flame was no joke his wood and water began to falter.

Lan An wasn't surprised; it was just a probe.

Chuckling, he flickered, using Phantom Charm Wander Step to retreat.

Golden Crow Palm!"

Yan Yue Qi pressed her advantage, shouting delicately.

Her fair hand struck, her flame forming a Golden Crow soaring toward him.

Star-Piercing Finger!"

Lan An laughed heartily, no longer holding back. Violet-Gold Sacred Flame condensed on his fingertip, firing a piercing strike at her palm.

Swish!

The Star-Piercing Finger pierced the Golden Crow Palm, but its force waned, slowing enough for Yan Yue Qi to dodge easily.

"Seems I went too easy. Try this!" she called, "Heavenly Flame Hand!"

Endless Golden Crow False Flame formed a colossal golden hand in the sky, hurtling toward him.

Lan An's expression grew serious. This move had once devastated Dark Origin Continent experts.

He didn't dare underestimate it, shouting, "Star-Plucking Grasp!"

Violet-Gold Sacred Flame formed a massive hand, clashing with her Heavenly Flame Hand.

Neither yielded.

"Fun! Another Heavenly Flame Hand!" Yan Yue Qi smirked, raising her other arm.

Another fiery hand formed, this time with Violet-Gold Sacred Flame.

Lan An refused to back down, laughing boldly. Another Star-Plucking Grasp erupted, using her Golden Crow False Flame.

Four giant hands dominated the sky, their pressure overwhelming.

Had their master not sealed the battlefield with spiritual energy, the Academy would've been alerted.

Even so, nosy old monsters peeked curiously.

Qin Meng Ying and Su Yan admired the two figures, truly exceptional.

With a unified shout from Lan An and Yan Yue Qi, the four hands collided.

BOOM! BOOM! CRASH!

Like meteors colliding, the Star-Plucking Grasps and Heavenly Flame Hands shattered, space cracking. The shockwave forced both back dozens of steps.

"Not bad!" Yan Yue Qi grew fiercer, her golden flames blazing.

CAW!

With a cry, a Golden Crow phantom emerged behind her, its wings spanning zhang, charging at Lan An.

She'd recently devised this attack, inspired by Lan An's Fire Phoenix on the Dark Origin Continent, showcasing her terrifying talent.

"Haha, playing birds with me? You're too green!" Lan An roared with laughter.

CAW! CAW!

Two cries answered. A Golden Crow and a proud purple Fire Phoenix formed behind him.

His Golden Crow and Fire Phoenix coordinated flawlessly, overwhelming Yan Yue Qi's Golden Crow.

"Great at birds, but how about thunder?" Yan Yue Qi laughed, exhilarated. Her Thunder Staff appeared, her eyes crackling with lightning.

Five Thunder Barrage!"

Her staff pointed skyward, dark clouds gathering rapidly. Five terrifying lightning bolts struck at Lan An.

Sweeping Heavenly Armies!"

Lan An didn't dare slack. The Dragon King Halberd materialized, its tip wreathed in Strange Flame. He swept horizontally at the lightning.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Lan An's halberd shattering the lightning was a visual spectacle, a war god demolishing each bolt.

"My turn! Speed Shift!"

Lan An vanished, reappearing behind Yan Yue Qi, striking fiercely.

"Hmph, dream on!" She laughed, her Thunder Staff swinging with sky-shaking force, meeting his halberd.

BOOM!

The clash pushed both back.

Lan An shouted in exhilaration, charging with his halberd.

Yan Yue Qi matched him, her Thunder Staff striking relentlessly, trading blow for blow.

Their figures clashed fiercely, space trembling with each impact.

Crack!

A shattering sound startled Yan Yue Qi, her heart twinging.

Their fervent battle had broken her Thunder Staff.

Its lower grade couldn't withstand the Dragon King Halberd's onslaught a predictable outcome.

This was the gift from him and Ji Qing Ni…

Lan An shuddered, seeing her dismay. He secretly transmitted, "I swear I'll repair it, even upgrade it to match your worth!"

Yan Yue Qi trembled, storing the broken Thunder Staff.

Lan An sheathed his halberd, understanding her intent.

"Block this, and I'll admit you're stronger!" Yan Yue Qi looked up, knowing he had more tricks—Wood Tortoise, Earth Bear.

She had one move left, her strongest, and her pride demanded she use it.

"Let's settle it!" Lan An encouraged.

Before eager eyes, Yan Yue Qi's hair billowed.

A Golden Crow phantom reappeared, now with a purple heart, infused with Violet-Gold Sacred Flame.

The fused Strange Flames cracked space.

Lightning flashed in her eyes, countless bolts merging into the dual-flame Golden Crow.

Her Thunder Fire Mysterious Art shone again.

Crack!

Space collapsed in layers.

"Big Sister's incredible!" Su Yan gasped, admitting she'd be helpless against this at Late Nascent Soul.

Qin Meng Ying nodded, her resolve to refine the Eight Desolations Heaven-Sweeping Flame firming. She couldn't fall too far behind.

Their master watched eagerly, wondering if Lan An's move could counter it.

Under their gazes, Lan An smiled, clasping his hands at his waist, body crouching.

His dual Strange Flames swirled, merging seamlessly. Mysterious Water and Mutated Wood wove in perfectly.

His Blazing Heart Cauldron, Mysterious Water Cauldron, and Heavenly Wood Cauldron thrummed in his dantian, spiritual energy compressed to the limit.

Between his hands, space vanished, leaving a black hole.

Yan Yue Qi's eyes widened, shouting haughtily, "Dazzling Thunder Golden Crow Strike!"

CAW!

The Golden Crow, wielding dual Strange Flames and thunder, soared with world-ending might toward Lan An.

Harmonious Spirit Palm!"

Lan An thrust his hands forward, unleashing a domineering palm.

Dazzling Thunder Golden Crow Strike clashed with Harmonious Spirit Palm.

A direct confrontation.

Utterly terrifying…