Chapter 240: Tides of Passion and Strategy

At the Joyful Sea, two bare bodies clung together on the white sand, waves gently lapping against them.

Lan An tenderly stroked Ai Xin's soft back, his touch as gentle as possible. Ai Xin nestled into him like a lazy kitten, murmuring, "The Dragon Immortal Sacred Canon is miraculous. I'll never fear injury in battle again."

Lan An smiled. After their passionate artificing session, their second union was tender, and he'd imparted the Dragon Immortal Sacred Canon. Transforming some of her yin energy into immortal qi, Ai Xin glowed even more radiantly, captivating beyond measure.

"Oh, I remember now! That portrait of the Shui Spirit Fairy—spill it, what's your connection?" Ai Xin suddenly recalled, pinching his nipple hard.

"Haha, Niang Qing, like Ji Ya, is your elder sister," Lan An said proudly.

"Jerk, jerk, jerk!" Ai Xin playfully twisted harder. "You've been in the Sea Continent how long? Already collecting so many beauties?"

"Including you, I have four wives here: you, a Western maiden; Niang Qing, an Eastern beauty; and Ling Long and Yu Qing, mermaids," Lan An said, eyes twinkling. Little loli Kun Ming Yue didn't count for now.

"Hmph, planning to collect every type of beauty in the heavens?" Ai Xin pouted, squeezing his shaft firmly. Her heart belonged to him, but she wasn't above a touch of jealousy.

"Not a bad idea!" Lan An laughed.

Ai Xin huffed, turning to face the sea, ignoring him. Lan An hugged her from behind, reluctant to let go of her exquisite form.

Seeing her playful sulk, he grinned mischievously, draping a stunning garment over her. Ai Xin's eyes lit up like beacons, and she sat up, inspecting the resplendent attire.

A princess-style dress, it left her alluring legs bare, with a deep neckline hugging her full chest. Vibrant red, it was embroidered with golden fire flowers—a Mid Spirit-Grade Fire Artifice Robe, enhancing her artificing speed, the finest garment Lan An had ever gifted a wife.

"It's perfect, like it was made for me," Ai Xin said, enchanted.

She produced a pure white bikini, pouting at Lan An. "Dress me!"

His shaft stiffened at her coy demand, but he suppressed the urge, slipping the bikini onto her, then carefully draping the Fire Artifice Robe over her form. In it, she looked like a newlywed princess, breathtakingly beautiful.

"When did you prepare this?" Ai Xin beamed, twirling before him, radiant and ethereal.

"Before visiting the Ai Clan, but I hadn't found the moment to give it to you," Lan An replied honestly.

"You do care for me," Ai Xin said, her gaze soft with affection.

"Who else would I care for?" Lan An shot back, feigning indignation. He handed her an Artificer's Axe and a jade token containing the Fire Artifice Dual Scripture. "The Artificer's Axe is Mid Spirit-Grade, suitable for both crafting and combat. The Fire Artifice Dual Scripture, a Peak Spirit-Grade technique, boosts your spiritual cultivation during artificing."

Ai Xin was stunned, tears welling in her eyes. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing, "Husband, I love you so much!"

Lan An nodded, satisfied. "Your grandfather and father entrusted you to me. I won't let them down."

Ai Xin's heart melted, feeling like the luckiest woman alive. Noticing his still-erect shaft, she leaned down tenderly, whispering, "Let me reward you…"

Her lithe form knelt, her lush lips enveloping his length.

"Hnng…" Lan An relaxed, watching his genius wife from the Hundred Spirits Ranking serve him, feeling every moment was worth it.

After an indeterminate time, as white essence overflowed from Ai Xin's lips, a clear, cold hum rang out.

"Hmph, shameless debauchery!"

Lan An and Ai Xin startled, turning toward the sound. On the Palace Tree, a noble beauty stood, her peach cheeks and red lips framed by phoenix-like eyes. Taller than Ai Xin, her Snow Ice Robe clung to her exquisite form, her long hair cascading past her hips, shimmering enticingly—Bing Lan Xi, Lan An's beloved.

"Stinky woman?" Lan An leapt up, pulling free from Ai Xin's lips and scooping her up princess-style, rushing toward Bing Lan Xi.

"Don't come near me!" Bing Lan Xi pouted, turning away, her heart brimming with grievance.

She'd missed him desperately after his aid, teleporting to the Bing Ji Palace via token to see him, only to witness this lascivious scene, sparking jealousy in her chest.

Ignoring her protest, Lan An enveloped her in his arms, still bare, holding Ai Xin in one arm and Bing Lan Xi in the other. Bing Lan Xi melted instantly, greedily inhaling his scent, her resentment fading. She'd only been mildly upset, guilt-ridden for not being by his side, leaving no room for true jealousy.

"Tâm'er, this is my stinky woman, Xi'er, another wife. She once swore to make me her male pet," Lan An teased, grinning. "Xi'er, this is Tâm'er, my newest wife. Get acquainted!"

The two women glanced at each other, stepping out of his embrace, awkward in such a situation. Ai Xin spoke first, her lips still glistening. "Greetings, Elder Sister."

"You've had it tough. Don't spoil him too much," Bing Lan Xi said, glaring at Lan An before smiling at Ai Xin.

Ai Xin giggled, covering her mouth, expecting a difficult sister but finding Bing Lan Xi warm and approachable, bridging their gap with a single remark.

"Ahem, Tâm'er, pick a palace," Lan An said, diverting his wives' attention.

"I cultivate fire attributes. That one suits me," Ai Xin pointed to a grand, crimson palace near Hong Lian Palace.

"Perfect. It'll be Ai Xin Palace, your third home after the Ai Clan and Dwarf Island," Lan An said, handing her a token. "This lets you teleport back here anytime, like Xi'er just did."

Ai Xin nodded, eager to test the Peak Spirit-Grade technique. She left a Video Recording Jade for Lan An to pass to her master and family, assuring them she wasn't kidnapped. Playfully kissing his cheek, she dashed into Ai Xin Palace with her Fire Artifice Robe, Artificer's Axe, and Fire Artifice Dual Scripture, giggling, "Take good care of Elder Sister!"

Bing Lan Xi smiled, fond of lively girls like Ai Xin, having only her stoic brother Bing Yong for company. Seeing Lan An still bare, his shaft proudly erect, she snapped, "Put on some clothes! Want to take me right here?"

Lan An grinned sheepishly, donning a simple robe. He pulled her close, burying his face in her silken hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent. Bing Lan Xi's heart fluttered, her arms wrapping around his waist. They stood silently, their heartbeats syncing, the world shrinking to just them.

Yu Qing's distant song echoed, stirring Bing Lan Xi. Noting the Spirit Realm Pearl's changes, she looked up, whispering, "I'm so proud of you. I wish the world knew Lan An is my man."

"Not your male pet?" Lan An teased, pressing her soft hand to his cheek.

"Hmph, if you want to be my pet, I'll indulge you," Bing Lan Xi retorted, her eyes seductive.

Lan An laughed, kissing her forehead. "For you, I'd be a pet forever."

Bing Lan Xi trembled, overwhelmed by love, and kissed him fiercely. Passion ignited, their tongues entwining. She pressed him down, straddling him, kissing and sucking his tongue, wishing to claim him entirely.

After what felt like an eternity, their lips numb, Bing Lan Xi reluctantly parted, fearing she'd lose herself. They held each other tightly, Lan An caressing her, whispering, "Stinky woman, how's the Empire? Does your visit affect anything?"

"Don't want me here? Did I ruin your fun?" Bing Lan Xi teased, nibbling his neck.

"Lick it, darling," Lan An sighed contentedly.

She huffed, her slick tongue tracing his neck, leaving red bite marks. Lan An reveled in her affectionate obedience.

"You know I'm worried about my brother-in-law. I only wish he could become Emperor soon, so you can be with me freely," Lan An murmured.

Bing Lan Xi's lips curved, his words making her utterly devoted. "With your support, things have improved. Le Wen Lian, true to his Seven Kills Sect assassin reputation, executed a brilliant hidden-stone tactic," she said, smiling happily. "He wiped out Second Prince's brothel intelligence network in one night, 'accidentally' leaving evidence implicating First Prince."

"Oh? Two birds, one stone. Impressive," Lan An praised.

"It was Advisor Tran's strategy. He planted the evidence himself," Bing Lan Xi added, impressed.

"Advisor Tran, a true talent by Bing Yong's side," Lan An mused.

"As for Luo Wu, Advisor Tran's arranging for him to appear gravely injured, like a beggar stumbling into the Lin Clan, becoming Second Prince's subordinate. With his Luo Clan elder status, it shouldn't be hard," Bing Lan Xi said with a sly smile.

"Well done. When the Luo Clan finds him, Luo Wu will know how to handle my situation," Lan An said approvingly.

"He'll tell the Luo Clan and Fan Yin Temple that a 'mysterious expert' aided you, swiftly killing Fan Shi and Fan Wu. As Luo Wu tried to shatter his token to summon Luo Po Lei, the 'expert' severed his token-holding arm, preventing the call. Luo Liu and Luo Qi self-detonated to let him escape. Touching, no?" Bing Lan Xi licked her lips seductively, fully aware of her husband's true strength from Luo Wu's account.

To execute this plan flawlessly, Luo Wu would sacrifice an arm.

"The Luo Clan and Fan Yin Temple will fear this 'expert' and hold back until their identity's revealed," Lan An said, grinning.

"Exactly. It's a prime chance for us to grow, thanks to Luo Wu's status as the Luo Clan's Fifth Elder. Anyone else would struggle to gain their trust," Bing Lan Xi nodded.

"Will they detect I've claimed Luo Wu's soul origin?" Lan An frowned.

Bing Lan Xi shook her head. "They lack soul cultivators to notice, and Advisor Tran's methods can conceal Luo Wu's enslavement, even under scrutiny."

Lan An nodded, growing more intrigued by Advisor Tran. "Your visit must be part of his plan, then," he said, smacking her rear playfully, kneading it. "What's there to hide between husband and wife?"

Bing Lan Xi giggled coyly, then took a deep breath, her voice soft. "We can only disrupt First and Second Prince's factions for now, not crush them. Our main target is Fifth Princess's faction."

Lan An nodded, listening intently as Fifth Princess led a formidable group.

"Advisor Tran says, with your charm, one trip to the Empire to woo Fifth Princess would let us easily absorb her faction," Bing Lan Xi said, her voice tinged with grievance.

"Pfft!" Lan An burst out, spanking her again, shouting, "That damn Advisor Tran wants me to use a honey trap?"