Chapter 206: Secrets of the Crystal Palace

Thank you for diving into Lan An's daring exploration, the Crystal Palace's splendor, and the mermaids' heart-stirring encounter! If the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart, Hai Ling Long's beauty, and this provocative twist ignite your spirit, unleash a flood of Power Stones! Your support fuels this xianxia epic. Share with fellow cultivators, and let's conquer the heavens together!

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Beyond the stomach's gate, Lan An entered the beast's small intestine. It was a vast cavern, ten zhang high, stretching endlessly. Strangely, a radiant glow shimmered in the distance, dazzling like daylight, its colors reflecting off the intestinal walls.

"Could there be a treasure hoard? That glow must be from riches!" Lan An's imagination soared, conjuring visions of wealth.

Without hesitation, he quickened his pace, unleashing Charm Shadow Carefree Steps to their limit. The intestine seemed boundless, but finally, the source of the light appeared.

"How is this possible?" Lan An gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.

Clinging to the intestinal wall was a massive water bubble. Within it stood a Crystal Palace, three zhang tall ample for human habitation. Its radiant, multicolored glow was breathtakingly opulent.

If not for the writhing walls, Lan An might have thought he'd stumbled into a fairy realm. The palace, a magical treasure, was encased in the protective bubble, nestled inside a Seventh-grade beast's intestine a dreamlike marvel.

"This Crystal Palace is a magical structure," Lan An mused, calming himself. Owning the Spirit Realm Pearl, a pinnacle treasure, tempered his awe.

Plink… plang…

A sound reached his ears, chilling his spine.

"That zither… so familiar," he muttered, heart racing with excitement as a memory stirred.

With a light step, he activated Speed Shift, reappearing near the bubble. It was formed of pure, condensed water spiritual energy, brimming with rich spiritual qi. His Water-Repelling Pearl parted it effortlessly, bringing him to the Crystal Palace's door.

Curiosity surged. Without pause, he unleashed Thousand-Mile Piercing Vision, scanning the palace's interior. Several rooms lay within, but only two pulsed with life.

"First, one room," Lan An whispered, sneaking in like a thief. He gently opened the door to a delicate chamber.

Gasp

His breath caught, heart skipping. A flawless, bare back met his gaze. A woman sat on a stone chair before a bronze mirror, fingers strumming a zither. Golden hair cascaded to her hips no, not hips, but a shimmering mermaid tail.

"A mermaid…" Lan An realized, stunned.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice his approach. "Plink… plang…" Her zither sang, each note exquisite.

Lan An swallowed hard, frozen by the sudden beauty. The mermaid he'd sought was before him, her back rivaling Qin Meng Ying's perfection.

Unwilling to disrupt the enchanting scene, he surveyed the room. It was simple: a large clamshell bed, its pink, velvety interior aglow, a bronze mirror, and the stone chair. Her golden tail swayed gracefully with the music.

With a wave, Lan An enveloped the room in spiritual energy, muffling sound. He stepped closer.

"Ahem… hello," he said, voice gentle.

Plink

The zither halted, her shoulders trembling.

"I'm not a bad person," he added quickly.

She spun around. "AAAAAAAAH!" Her ocean-blue eyes widened, red lips screaming in terror. Her tail and hands flailed, retreating, the zither clattering to the floor.

Thankfully, Lan An's sound barrier contained her cry. Her face struck him beauty beyond words, a treasure of the seas. Golden hair like silk, curved lashes framing deep blue eyes, delicate features, a high nose, and dreamy lips epitomized Western allure. Her upper body was flawless, her full breasts covered by seashells, a pink shell guarding her lower modesty, irresistibly alluring.

A Western mermaid, straight from a fairy tale, stood before him.

"Human… who are you?" Recovering, her crystal-clear voice asked, curiosity replacing fear.

Lan An, regaining composure, admired her. Her beauty, especially her soft, gem-like golden tail, captivated him. Sensing no harm, she studied him, noting his handsome features and agile legs, her eyes blinking with intrigue.

"You're a land human?" she asked, curious.

"Indeed. You're not afraid?" Lan An winked, smiling.

"You won't hurt me. I feel you'll protect me," she said confidently, tapping her chin.

"Oh? You sense that?" Lan An was surprised.

"My heart tells me so," she murmured, hand on her chest, eyes half-closed.

"This woman has a rare heart, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart," Jin Ni explained. "It senses others' intentions. Only one such heart exists on this planet, though Ji Bing's Ice Water Exquisite Heart, from your Dragon Immortal Sacred Canon, differs in function."

"Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart?" Lan An echoed, intrigued. Ji Bing's heart, formed via the Ice Water Dragon Scripture, mastered ice and water techniques instantly. This mermaid's heart discerned goodwill from malice.

"Have you lived here since childhood?" Lan An sat beside her, asking softly, brushing her tail—smooth and sleek as fine skin.

She shrank back, blushing. "Our tails are for husbands only. How could you?" she stammered, innocent as a blank page.

"Husband? I touched it… can I be your husband?" Lan An teased, stroking her tail again.

"No! Mermaids never mingle with humans. Aunt Qing taught me that," she said, shaking her head naively.

"Aunt Qing? You live here with her?" Lan An recalled the other room's life aura.

"Yes, Aunt Qing and I depend on each other. We're the last mermaids," she said, voice tinged with loneliness.

Lan An's heart ached, recalling Xiao Qing Xuan's master saying mermaids were extinct.

"Who says only two? If you bear children, won't there be more little mermaids?" he comforted.

"No… mermaids who self-conceive use their life force to nurture the child, dying after birth. My mother died birthing me," she said, shaking her head.

"What?" Lan An froze. "That's self-conception. There's another way, right?"

Her face flushed, head lowered, silent. Glancing at her shell-covered lower body, Lan An guessed the alternative.

"I'm Lan An. What's your name?" he asked gently.

"I'm Hai Ling Long. Call me Ling Long," she whispered.

"Beautiful name, Ling Long," he said warmly.

She covered her face, shy at a man's address. "Isn't living in this beast boring?" Lan An asked.

He reasoned the Seventh-grade beast's speed had hidden them before, its belly muffling their song. No wonder trackers failed this was the perfect sanctuary.

"Aunt Qing says it's safest. We're the last mermaids; other races can't hunt us here," Ling Long said sadly.

"Those bastards…" Lan An's eyes chilled. Such a beautiful race, hunted near extinction.

"Aunt Qing said a thousand years ago, she and my mother were swallowed by this whale. They chose to stay. My mother birthed me, sacrificing herself," Ling Long said, biting her lip, eyes downcast.

"Don't dwell on it. Your mother would be proud," Lan An soothed.

"Thank you," she smiled, her beauty dazzling him.

"Would you like to…" Lan An began, but a sharp pain stabbed his soul.

"Vile human, seducing our princess? Die!" A cold, melodious shout echoed as another stunning figure appeared, eyes icy with killing intent. Her soul formed a spear, striking Lan An.

"Aunt Qing, stop! He's not bad!" Ling Long cried.

"Don't be fooled, Princess!" The attacker ignored her, intensifying her soul assault.

"Soul Cultivator?" Lan An muttered, pain searing his soul. With a cold hum, his Immortal Derivation Scripture and Soul-Warming Lotus surged. "Soul-Binding Chains!"

An invisible chain shot from his brow, piercing her forehead, coiling tightly.

"Argh!" She screamed, soul battered, blood streaming from her orifices, collapsing in agony.

Lan An retracted the chain; prolonging it could've shattered her soul. "A Mid Nascent Soul soul cultivator dares ambush me? Who gave you the nerve?" he snapped, glaring.

This mermaid, with night-mist purple hair, was more mature than Ling Long, exuding ripe allure like a peach. Around thirty, her voluptuous figure surpassed Mu Zi Yin's, her red lips fiery, her face radiant.

But Lan An was furious. Her reckless attack could've killed him if he weren't a soul cultivator. She needed a lesson.

Seeing Aunt Qing writhing, soul gravely wounded, Ling Long paled. "Aunt Qing, are you okay?" she cried, rushing to her.

Too injured to respond, Qing's aura faded, soul damage a cultivator's worst fear.

"No, Aunt Qing can't die!" Ling Long, terrified, swam to Lan An, clutching his leg, sobbing. "Please save her! I apologize for her!"

Lan An's heart softened. He lifted Ling Long, who trembled but didn't resist, fearing his displeasure. Kissing her forehead gently, he said, "She attacked me a grave offense. Saving her comes with conditions."

Feeling no malice, Ling Long nodded desperately. "What's her full name?" he asked, pointing to the near-unconscious Qing.

"Hai You Qing," Ling Long said quickly.

"Good. Stay there. I'll save You Qing," Lan An said, lifting her. Her skin was elastic, her purple tail shimmering. Like Ling Long, she wore only shells over sensitive areas.

His clothes vanished, revealing his bare form. Ling Long shot up. "What are you doing?" she stammered, eyeing his provocative member.

"Only dual cultivation can save You Qing. You can refuse," Lan An shrugged.

"No… just save her," Ling Long nodded, tears falling.

Lan An smiled gently, placing You Qing on the pearl bed. Her three shells fell away…