Chapter 196: Defying the Wolves

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Lan An's sudden leap to his feet startled the four women, and the entire plaza found his reaction bizarre.

What could unsettle a tycoon who remained unruffled while trading three Spirit-grade artifacts without a blink?

All eyes turned to the stage, fixating on the item the purple-robed cultivator had produced.

It was a round, white table-like object, etched with countless mysterious runes that shifted in an eerie dance, its nature unrecognizable.

"An array?" some knowledgeable cultivators muttered, yet its purpose eluded them.

The purple-robed cultivator himself was puzzled. Did someone recognize his item, causing such excitement? Impossible. He'd risked life and limb to retrieve it from an ancient perilous land.

Dismissing further speculation, he resolved to proceed, having decided to reveal it.

"As you see, I hold an array disc, capable of resizing at will," he said gravely.

The crowd listened intently.

"Its sole function is to accelerate time tenfold. Ten days of cultivation inside equals one day in real time," he continued, his voice hoarse.

"What? How is that possible?"

His words ignited the plaza. Everyone stood, even Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao, their delicate hands covering their gaping mouths.

Ji Ya, Shui Niang Qing, and Xiao Qing Xuan gasped, understanding Lan An's agitation.

Time and Space, the most enigmatic and elusive forces, had long vanished from Yue Long Star, existing only in ancient records.

Misconceptions abounded. Void Refinement cultivators could tear or shatter space, even block Lan An's Teleportation Talisman, but this wasn't true Space mastery. They merely grasped rudimentary space rules, using brute force to affect it like smashing or tearing an object without wielding its essence.

Void Refinement cultivators dared only move or hide in the void, never fighting within it. A misstep could see them crushed by spatial forces.

True Space masters possessed Space spiritual roots and cultivated Space techniques, wielding spatial energy like spiritual power binding enemies, forming crushing vortexes, or teleporting instantly without tearing the void. Void Refinement cultivators merely influenced space, not controlled it.

Time was even more arcane, intangible, and unfathomable. Only those with Time spiritual roots or related constitutions could sense this mystical force. Such individuals didn't exist on a low-tier world like Yue Long Star.

Thus, the array disc's time acceleration ability was utterly heaven-defying.

Imagine two Nascent Soul Peak cultivators, evenly matched, retreating to cultivate. With the Time Acceleration Array, one day's training equaled ten for others. In a month, you'd break through to Spirit Transformation, while your rival needed ten months.

Its impact was unimaginable.

All eyes locked on the purple-robed cultivator, a shared thought echoing: Is he mad to trade such a heaven-defying item?

"I'm not mad," he said calmly, as if reading their minds. "I'm too poor to sustain this array."

"Poor?" The crowd's expressions turned odd. Lan An, noting the man's Mid Integration cultivation, grew solemn. A Mid Integration cultivator claiming poverty? Believable?

"One person cultivating inside for one day consumes 1,000 Supreme Spirit Stones," the cultivator sighed. "One real-time day, or ten array days, costs 10,000 Supreme Spirit Stones. Since obtaining it, I cultivated for one month and went broke."

The crowd's mouths twitched. This was ruinously extravagant.

One real-time day cost 10,000 Supreme Spirit Stones. A month 30 real-time days, or 300 array days—required 300,000 Supreme Spirit Stones, enough to buy a common Spirit-grade artifact from the Dwarf Tribe.

A month's cultivation equaled a Spirit-grade artifact's price. It was money-burning madness.

Sympathetic glances fell on the cultivator. No wonder he traded this heaven-defying item. They couldn't endure such costs either.

Lan An's expression darkened as he calculated. Dissolving a Seventh-grade sect like Qing Yun Sect yielded 510,000 Supreme Spirit Stones, excluding spirit stone mines used to enhance his Spirit Pearl's aura.

One month's cultivation cost 300,000 Supreme Spirit Stones. Selling Qing Yun Sect wouldn't fund two months.

This array was a wealth-devouring beast.

Even using Zhong Wu Ming's Transcending Tribulation wealth, Lan An could afford eight real-time months—80 array months. If his wives joined, costs could multiply ten or twentyfold.

For the first time, Lan An felt truly poor.

Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao exchanged glances, understanding why a Hundred Spirits Academy elder couldn't bear the array's drain. His annual stipend, though substantial, fell far short.

Despite its spirit stone limitation, the array's heaven-defying utility was undeniable. Some believed controlled use could avoid bankruptcy.

They awaited the cultivator's price.

"What could satisfy an Integration cultivator?" Lan An muttered, frowning. Integration cultivators likely owned Spirit-grade items.

Despite the array's ruinous cost, Lan An resolved not to let it slip. He'd devised another way to amass spirit stones.

The purple-robed cultivator scanned the plaza, his gaze landing on Lan An. "I'll trade the Time Acceleration Array for a Strange Water, any kind."

Sigh

Regretful sighs rippled through the crowd.

Eyes turned to Lan An, awaiting his decision.

His body trembled, fists clenched. The Strange Water would boost his and a Water-attribute wife's combat power, intended for Ji Ya. Shui Niang Qing, with her Strange Water and future Water Qilin bloodline, didn't need another. Yan Ruo Xue's Wild Water bloodline sufficed for now.

But the Time Acceleration Array could become a Palace-Towning Treasure, shaping his entire harem's future.

One choice benefited him and Ji Ya; the other, his whole harem.

Three soft hands grasped his.

Startled, Lan An turned, meeting three pairs of sincere, beautiful eyes.

"You're our harem's master. We trust your choice," the three women said in unison.

Warmth flooded Lan An's heart. He caressed the stone box holding the Strange Water.

"Jin Ni, is it worth it?" he asked, respecting her opinion.

"Worth it," Jin Ni analyzed gravely. "This Frost Chill Water carries icy coldness, allowing non-Ice root cultivators to use Ice techniques. But it's not critical for you, as you'll forge an Ice Cauldron later. The array, however, can be upgraded to accelerate time a hundred or thousandfold. Though challenging, such a future would defy the heavens."

Lan An exhaled, fate aligning. Frost Chill Water offered Ji Ya little beyond cultivation boosts, given her Ice attribute.

He flashed onto the stage.

"I'll trade Frost Chill Water for the Time Acceleration Array," he said decisively to the cultivator.

"Oh, Frost Chill Water?" The cultivator nodded, pleased by Lan An's transparency. As a Water cultivator, gaining Ice technique ability would significantly enhance his combat power.

For certainty, he requested the box be opened.

Lan An nodded. The box parted, snowflakes forming as the temperature plummeted. Inside, a cold stream hovered, shifting between liquid and ice Frost Chill Water, wondrously divine.

Bao Qiao smiled wryly. The Strange Water she'd traded was already exchanged. She shot Lan An a resentful glance.

Sensing it, he returned an apologetic look.

Cheng Bi stifled a laugh. The Strange Water was Lan An's to trade why resent him, Qiao Qiao?

"Good. Be cautious. Many predators eye you," the cultivator warned kindly, taking the Strange Water and handing over the array disc. As a Mid Integration Hundred Spirits elder, he had no greed for Lan An's wealth.

"My thanks, Senior," Lan An clasped his hands, storing the array disc safely in his Spirit Pearl.

"Farewell," the cultivator vanished, paying Duo Bao Pavilion's spirit stones, eager to refine the Strange Water.

Dozens followed him, including a tall Night Shadow Island figure, intent on seizing the Strange Water. Unaware he was Integration, they were pitifully doomed.

At the plaza, only Lan An and Duo Bao Pavilion discerned his true cultivation, others mistaking him for Void Refinement.

"The festival concludes successfully. Our heartfelt thanks to all for honoring Duo Bao Pavilion," Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao bowed, smiling radiantly.

Countless cultivators rose, returning courtesies, and began paying spirit stones to leave.

Lan An, Xiao Qing Xuan, and Ai Er followed suit. Ji Ya and Shui Niang Qing had slipped away unnoticed.

"2,000 Supreme Spirit Stones per person?" Lan An nodded, paying 10,000 for all five, including Ji Ya and Shui Niang Qing.

With tens of thousands attending, Duo Bao Pavilion amassed roughly 20 million Supreme Spirit Stones as mere organizers—a staggering profit that left tongues wagging.

Outside, many lingered, watching intently instead of departing.

Some hid in the void, like starving wolves stalking prey. From all ranks, they awaited Lan An's exit.

No fighting was allowed within a thousand li, but tailing was fair game. Once Lan An left that range, he'd be prime prey.

Clop clop clop

Footsteps echoed. Lan An emerged, holding Xiao Qing Xuan's hand and carrying Ai Er, strolling casually.

"Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm flattered," he grinned wickedly, waving.

"Welcome, my foot," the crowd scoffed inwardly.

"Hmph, acting tough on death's door," some sneered silently.

Several Void Refinement and two hidden Integration cultivators lurked in the void. Even if Lan An tore space, they could track his fluctuations. Not all Integration cultivators were as noble as the purple-robed elder.

Sigh "Ignorant of the sin of carrying jade, he must be some spoiled young master," a Spirit Transformation elder sighed, staying for the spectacle.

"When did Lan Zhou's cultivators become so vile?" Ai Xin hovered, frowning. The youths who courted her, posing as gentlemen, were all here, ready to kill and plunder.

"The profit's too great," an Ai Clan elder sighed.

Lan An stepped forward, holding Xiao Qing Xuan and Ai Er, preparing to leave.

The crowd tensed, bracing for a swift escape.

Lan An's fists clenched. Duo Bao Pavilion was infinitely wealthier—why not rob them? Because their power was terrifying.

If his harem were that strong, who'd dare openly ambush him?

Strength decided everything.

"Fellow Daoist, wait!" a hurried voice interrupted.

Bao Li's plump figure soared over, saluting Lan An. "The two stewards wish to meet you privately."

Lan An smirked, spitting on the ground. "Good dogs, come lick! Don't forget to wait for your master's return."

With that, he led the two women back into Duo Bao Pavilion.

The crowd seethed, lungs nearly bursting. He'd called them all dogs?

Some prideful experts turned and left, but most shameless ones stayed, convincing themselves, "He didn't mean me."