Chapter 159: Truth Revealed, Bonds Forged
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Inside the Niang Zi Faction headquarters…
Lan An sat with his women in a circle, the atmosphere heavy with silence.
Noticing their worried expressions some puzzled but hesitant to ask, especially after recalling his confrontation with Lan Chen Lan An knew they weren't foolish. They sensed his connection to the Lan Clan.
Taking a deep breath, he decided it was time to reveal the truth. They were family; nothing should be hidden.
He'd once feared their anger might drive them to reckless cultivation, but now, with the truth exposed, concealing it further would breed mistrust, hindering their progress.
He trusted they could handle the reality.
"Dì nhỏ, please speak for me…" Lan An turned to Liu Shi Qin, his voice hoarse.
Liu Shi Qin glanced at each radiant face, aware that only Yen Ruo Xue, Yan Hong Lian, Ji Qing Ni, and Mu Zi Yin knew Lan An's tragic past.
As the truth was about to unfold, the other women grew solemn, eager to understand why their man and the Lan Clan were sworn enemies.
Even Qin Meng Ying was no exception.
Liu Shi Qin exhaled softly, her voice gentle, "Little An was the son of that bastard Lan Po Lei and…"
As her choked words echoed in the quiet space, the women's eyes reddened with fury.
When they heard how Lan Po Lei personally gouged out Lan An's eye for Lan Yu, they stared at his empty socket, tears streaming down.
Even those who knew, like Mu Zi Yin, trembled with uncontainable rage upon hearing it again.
For those who loved Lan An deeply, like Bai Su Mei and Li Zhu Luan, the pain was unbearable.
Killing intent swirled in the room, their eyes blazing with hatred yet softening with love for their man.
Bai Su Mei and Li Zhu Luan's auras were the most murderous, regretting not slaughtering Lan Chen and Lan Chang earlier.
Qin Meng Ying gripped Lan An's hand, as if soothing his wounded soul, her heart aching, marking the Lan Clan as her mortal enemy.
Back in Spirit Martial City, she'd nearly killed Blood Spirit Sect elder Xue Chang for threatening Lan An, only spared by the Great Elder's intervention.
This showed how fiercely she protected Lan An, now her "little junior brother."
If their master learned of this, the Lan Clan would face dire consequences.
Su Mei, Bing Ling Er, Nangong Wenyun, and Hua Yu Feng's eyes were wet, their fists bleeding from clenching.
They hadn't imagined his fate was so tragic, worse than any of theirs.
"As you've seen, the Lan Clan is our husband's and our sworn enemy!" Yen Ruo Xue wiped her tears, declaring firmly.
"His仇 is ours. We'll exact revenge ourselves, but our current strength isn't enough. We must grow stronger, stronger still!" Yan Hong Lian tossed her fiery hair, emphasizing.
"Yes!" The women nodded in unison.
"Alright, I should thank the Lan Clan. Without them, I wouldn't have you all. Let's look at this positively…" Lan An embraced each woman, comforting them.
When it was Nangong Wenyun's turn, she let out a shy moan, letting him hold her gently, patting her back to reassure her.
Hua Yu Feng stiffened as he hugged her, eyes wide, but didn't push him away.
Su Mei, predictably, melted into him, wishing to fuse with his body.
Thanks to Lan An's efforts, the women calmed, but the Lan Clan became a thorn in their hearts, an unease they couldn't shake until it was uprooted.
"Husband, I wish to enter long-term seclusion!" Yen Ruo Xue said resolutely, looking at Lan An.
"Me too!" Yan Hong Lian, Ji Qing Ni, Li Zhu Luan, and Mu Zi Yin echoed.
"I want to study the Evil Emperor's formations!" Hua Yu Feng said gravely.
Lan An sighed, knowing he couldn't stop their resolve, his heart warmed.
"Wait for me a moment!"
He produced two ancient golden jade pendants and a noble robe.
As the pendants appeared, a sharp golden light swept out, thick with killing intent.
Qin Meng Ying released her aura to shield the women from discomfort.
"These are Golden Light Phantom Steps, Six Deadly Needles Scripture, and Golden Mysterious Robe, prepared specially for you…" Lan An looked into Nangong Wenyun's eyes, sincere. "Don't disappoint me!"
Nangong Wenyun bit her lip, accepting the items without hesitation, nodding firmly. "If you don't fail me, I'll serve you my whole life!"
"Good… good… good! With your words, everything's worth it!" Lan An said "good" thrice, trusting those he chose completely.
Turning to Hua Yu Feng, he handed her the Eight Formation Diagram and Phoenix Blossom Robe.
Hua Yu Feng hesitated, reluctant to owe him more, fearing she'd fall deeper.
"No refusals, Jade Phoenix. You can't escape me this life!" Lan An declared domineeringly, cutting off her unspoken protest.
With a proud woman, he had to be prouder.
Hua Yu Feng glared, but accepted the items, consoling herself that, given his tragic past, she shouldn't refuse now.
"I'll repay his kindness later…" she told herself.
Su Mei and Yen Ruo Xue smiled secretly at the scene.
"Lord Husband, where's Ling Er's share? I'm already yours!" Bing Ling Er clung to his arm, pouting playfully.
"Of course, here's the Ice Heaven Axe and Snow Jade Robe…" Lan An smiled, presenting two items.
"Wow, Ling Er loves them! I adore you!" Bing Ling Er kissed his cheek, gleefully accepting.
Only Su Mei remained, shooting him resentful glances.
"Charm Arts are rare, so use this for now!" Lan An grinned mysteriously.
Twang twang twang…
A resonant strum shook the space, making the women tremble. Even the Ice Heaven Axe in Bing Ling Er's hand quivered in fear.
Charming Sound Pipa – High Spirit-Grade artifact.
The pipa, a mesmerizing purple with arcane patterns, its silver strings gleaming, illuminated the room.
"This… this is…" Su Mei stared, transfixed.
The women shot Lan An jealous looks, envious of Su Mei's High Spirit-Grade treasure.
Lan An shook his head wryly. Wealth was great, but supporting so many wives wasn't easy.
"It's for you, along with this Charming Love Robe…" Lan An handed her the items.
Su Mei's eyes glistened, her smile blooming like a hundred flowers, clutching the treasures tightly, overjoyed.
Seeing her happiness, Lan An felt it was all worthwhile.
"Open the Lucky Charm Shop!" he commanded inwardly.
Before their seclusion, buying more items could help, perhaps finding a Charm Art for Su Mei.
But soon, his breath caught, nearly jumping up.
Among the shop's top five items, two terrifying bloodlines appeared:
Primordial Nine-Colored Sky-Devouring Python Bloodline – 9 billion Prestige Points.
Primordial White Star Serpent Bloodline – 9 billion Prestige Points.
These bloodlines dazzled Lan An. Glancing at Bai Su Mei, gazing at him lovingly, he didn't hesitate, selecting the Primordial White Star Serpent Bloodline.
Per Jin Ni, Bai Su Mei was a distant descendant of this ancient beast, far weaker than its ancestor.
With this bloodline, her future would be unimaginable, giving him a formidable ally.
"Host, confirm purchase of Primordial White Star Serpent Bloodline?" the system prompted.
"Buy!" Lan An decided swiftly.
With his Reverse Dragon Bloodline, he didn't need another. Buying for his wife was best.
"Purchase successful!"
Lan An exhaled, producing a jade vial containing a writhing silver-white blood drop under the women's curious gazes.
Roar…
A deafening roar shook the space. Within the blood drop, a massive white creature loomed, swallowing a star in a terrifying display.
Bai Su Mei shot up, transforming uncontrollably into her true form a dazzling White Star Serpent, dozens of zhang long, filling the room.
Her eyes burned, fixated on the vial, trembling with excitement.
"What's happening?" The women stood, staring in shock.
"This is Tố Mai's ancestral bloodline!" Lan An explained, holding the silver-white blood.
The women nodded, assuming his mysterious master had gifted another treasure.
"Jin Ni, can Tố Mai refine this bloodline directly?" Lan An asked.
"No issue. She has a faint trace of its lineage, so there's no risk of backlash, though it'll take time due to her current low strength," Jin Ni confirmed.
"Alright! Tố Mai, take it and refine it in the Spirit Realm Pearl. I await your triumph!" Lan An tossed the vial, encouraging her.
Though in serpent form, Bai Su Mei gazed at him lovingly, swallowing the vial. At Lan An's command, she entered the Spirit Realm Pearl.
In her palace, she consumed the blood.
Her body coiled, scales peeling to form an eggshell encasing her massive form.
She began refining the bloodline.
Her next awakening would shake the heavens.
Lan An, seeing the women's eagerness, sent them into the Spirit Realm Pearl for seclusion:
Yen Ruo Xue cultivated Water Desolate War Canon and Water Desolate Bloodline.
Yan Hong Lian refined Nine Suns Divine Art.
Yan Die Qing practiced Wood Feather True Art.
Li Zhu Luan honed Blessed Wood True Art.
Mu Zi Yin mastered Illusory Wood True Scripture.
Nangong Wenyun trained Golden Light Phantom Steps and Six Deadly Needles Scripture.
Hua Yu Feng studied the Evil Emperor's formations and Eight Formation Diagram.
Su Mei secluded to bond with the Charming Sound Pipa, a High Spirit-Grade artifact requiring time due to her low cultivation.
Soon, only Liu Shi Qin, Qin Meng Ying, and Bing Ling Er remained, with Little Lion on his shoulder.
"Ling Er, what grade is your cultivation art?" Lan An asked Bing Ling Er.
Ice Axe Mysterious Art, Extreme Earth-Grade!" she replied innocently.
Lan An marveled at the Ninth-Rank forces' resources, even granting maids Extreme Earth-Grade arts.
Unsatisfied, with 4 billion Prestige Points left after Bai Su Mei's bloodline, he reopened the Lucky Charm Shop.
Bing Ling Er, with her Ice Spirit Root and Third-Turn Perfect Body Cultivation, loved wielding heavy axes to crush foes.
He resolved to find an art suiting her body and ice attributes.
Time passed, his Prestige Points dwindling as he refreshed the shop countless times.
He acquired a Peak Heaven-Grade robe for himself: Sun-Moon Long Robe.
Several bloodlines appeared, but he skipped them, lacking funds.
Finally, an art caught his eye:
Heavenly Ice Myriad Elephant Art, Volume 1 – High Spirit-Grade, 70,000 Prestige Points.
Note: Seven layers; at the highest, grants the strength of myriad Heavenly Ice Giant Elephants, ancient ice beasts renowned for power.
Lan An bought it joyfully. Though only the first volume, it suited Bing Ling Er perfectly.
"This is yours, better than Lan Xi's. Don't let us down!" He handed her the jade pendant, patting her head encouragingly.
"Lord Husband is the best! Miss needed nine lives to meet you, and Ling Er benefits too, heehee!" Bing Ling Er flattered, taking the art and entering the Spirit Realm Pearl.
Only Liu Shi Qin and Qin Meng Ying remained.
"I feel, after the Assessment battles, I'm close to breaking through to Spirit Transformation. I need seclusion!" Liu Shi Qin smiled gently at him.
Lan An nodded, sharing her relief. Revealing his past to the women lifted a burden, as hiding things from loved ones was painful.
"Little An, keep searching for your mother!" Liu Shi Qin reminded.
"I know. The continent's vast; perhaps she hasn't heard of me yet," Lan An smiled, comforting himself.
He waved, sending her into the Spirit Realm Pearl.
Having cultivated Ice Moon Night Wind Scripture, Liu Shi Qin was on the cusp of Spirit Transformation, needing only experience.
Seclusion for a breakthrough was natural.
"No gift for me?" Qin Meng Ying, now alone, reverted to her stunning true face, holding out her hand.
Lan An caressed her perfect face, whispering, "First, tour our home. As for gifts, isn't the Eight Desolations Heaven-Sweeping Flame enough?"