The adorable panda form of Ancient Bear Prison Earth erased all memory of its former ferocity.
Even Lan An gawked, rubbing the tiny head. This crushed White Sand's Supreme Emperor?
He'd imagined a black-white clay lump, or something cool, not a chubby mini-bear with a little girl's voice.
"Hmph!" The Panda huffed, sitting cross-legged. Its true form never scared, hence the sandstorm giant. Reactions were expected.
Among the women, only Bai Lian Hua was unsurprised. She'd met Strange Earth, she knew the truth.
"Da Xiong, finally free in the sky. Trust Hundred Flowers Fairy won't mistreat you!" She muttered. One wish fulfilled.
Liu Shi Qin continued:
"Bride-price for Sect Leader Su Yan: Ancient Bear Prison Earth, one Lower True-Grade Treasure, Triple Spirit Jade Flute, one incomplete supreme Martial Skill from White Sand Dynasty."
Prior gifts numbed the shock, yet gasps were heard. Unparalleled on Viet Long.
The unknown skill, the Harem called extreme, was not simple. Su Yan's talent plus Strange Earth equaled perfection.
Countless Image Jades recorded the scene, its spread would drive women mad.
Su Yan was calm, her eyes soft on Junior. The grass ring was priceless.
"Little Xiong, new master!" Lan An pointed, grinning.
"You're Little Xiong, the whole family is Little Xiong!" The Panda flailed, it hated the nickname.
Still seated. Lan An smiled: "Breaking the pact?"
"Hmph, the deal is: refine me, eight years. Not her!" It pointed at Su Yan, who was less promising.
"My wife is the same. Still eight." Lan An was casual.
His plan: his energy was vast, his bottleneck near. Refining now would mean Fifth Peak Perfection, a waste. Su Yan first, boost her. Later Dual Cultivation, take it back. Rushing now? Awkward, he was always considerate.
"Fine." It recalled his wife-spoiling. It made a chubby hop, toward Su Yan.
The Panda was cute, Su Yan was fond. Her soft hand stroked it:
"Your sentience will be fully preserved in refinement!"
Lan An nodded, no refusal. He accepted the gifts, they were for his women. No politeness needed.
The Panda warmed, it curled up fist-sized on her shoulder, snoozing.
Not lazy, sleep restored it. White Sand had drained it, the Pearl time was insufficient.
Hundred Flowers Fairy plus tiny Panda, lethal cuteness. The crowd was dazed.
Lan An was pleased, Su Yan was weaker than Yue Qi and Meng Ying. A wise choice.
"Elders, satisfied?" Liu Shi Qin smiled.
The Elders were speechless, not fainting meant strong will.
The resources would mean Hundred Flowers reached a new tier. The Elders too.
Grand Elder Hua Yu Loan grinned:
"Past rule, no Sect Leader marriage. Disciples allowed, engagement needs elder witness. Wu San Niang is busy, skip!"
Lan An's elder was Wu San Niang. Hundred Flowers dared not demand a Tribulation Transcender.
About to nod, a booming voice:
"Good event, how can I miss it? Someone else wants to see the brat wed."
"Master?!" Yue Qi, Meng Ying, Su Yan cried, looking skyward.
The women were awed, their idol had arrived.
Space shattered, a fist punch. Two figures emerged.
The leader: simple martial robe, honey skin, wild. Ponytail, tall balanced frame. Asian beauty plus heroic aura. Massive chest strained the fabric, cinched waist, high firm rear, a visual assault.
Wu San Niang.
Focus shifted, a black cloak behind, the aura sealed.
"Greetings Master!" Lan An and the three women bowed.
"Greetings Senior Wu!" A chorus.
Hundred Flowers had tears, the Raging Queen in the flesh. Supreme honor.
Her past visit was secret.
Wu San Niang scanned, a lethal grin:
"Brat, the dowry, even I wanna marry! Heh!"
The crowd was weirded out. The legendary terror, this casual?
Lan An inwardly: Dare marry, I dare wed. Great Force Earth Flame dowry…
An evil grin, Wu San Niang kicked his butt:
"Brat, eyeing your master? Too green!"
Lan An pouted, it was a trap.
"Hehe!" The women giggled, a rare loss.
"Senior is here, witness the engagement!" Yan Ruo Lan beamed, proud for Yan Ruo Xue.
A Tribulation officiant, glory.
Wu San Niang nodded, her red lips curled:
"All his women, serve tea. Not me, her!" She pointed at the cloaked figure.
The crowd was confused.
"Senior, who?"
Liu Shi Qin's voice trembled, her eyes locked since the arrival.
Her blood boiled, heart clenched, like the first meeting with Lan An.
The cloaked figure was shaking, tears behind the fabric.
Lan An was shocked, his Aunt's reaction. A slim chance.
The women were puzzled, they thought it was Wu San Niang's friend.
"Pitiful woman." Wu San Niang sighed.
"Who…" Liu Shi Qin rushed forward.
The cloaked figure had terrifying strength, yet retreated, daring not to show her face.
Lan An was blank, he looked at Wu San Niang for the answer.
"Du Ren!" Wu San Niang spat.
Lan An jolted, the women too.
He had saved her, he had told them. Golden Ranking supernova, under 500.
"Du Ren… where found?" Her voice shaking.
"Lac Clan ambushed Liu Clan, Du Ren saved her!" Wu San Niang.
She was uncomfortable, she wanted to be blunt. But Du Ren's state was her choice.
Liu Shi Qin heard, tears. She chased, couldn't catch her. She roared:
"Who are you? Show yourself once, please!"
Du Ren froze. Wu San Niang's tea words, the women's boom:
"Du Ren is…"
She saved Lan An, the Liu Clan. She deserved tea. Aunt lost control.
Liu Shi Qin, family instinct.
Lan An was dumb? He guessed.
"Mother…" Misty eyes, a soft call. His heart stopped. He waited too long, the Holy Spirit Academy goal.
The call struck, Du Ren was electrified. She froze. Ecstatic, He calls mother? Accepts?
Liu Shi Qin seized her, unhooded her.
Silence.
Her face was tear-streaked, purple-green hair danced. Familiar, yearned for.
Her features, creation's masterpiece. No portrait's gentleness, resolute, seductive, demonic.
Like Lan An, three parts. Sharp eyes, high nose, full lips, black, soul-sucking.
Eyeliner black, eyes abyssal.
Nails, toes, pure black. Rebellious.
Not ugly, purple-green hair, flawless skin equaled demonic allure plus danger. Addictive poison.
"Gorgeous!" Women were entranced, visual overload.
Even Wu San Niang, Liu Shi Qin dimmed.
"Poison Body not Natural. Stronger, Rank 7 Great Body Chart: Annihilation Poison Body!" Jin Er assessed gravely.
Annihilation Poison Body kills all life. Maxed, even Immortals. Don't underestimate, below Five Elements Holy Body, but kills carelessly.
Immense power, yet Du Ren sobbed, head down.
Suddenly, warm arms embraced her, tight, afraid she would vanish.
The gentlest male voice:
"Mother, welcome home!"