Watching his Fame Points skyrocket, Lan An inwardly marveled. The dowry had bled his coffers dry—yet the harvest was richer still. Only… his hoard of Youth Retaining Pills, painstakingly amassed, now dwindled to a mere hundred-plus.
He had returned to Sacred Spirit Academy with the Wife Legion. Non-members remained in the Spirit Realm Pearl, bonding with Liu Yuqing—mother-in-law and daughters-in-law forging ties.
Su Yan stayed at Hundred Flowers Sect, secluded to refine the Ancient Bear Jade Suppressing Earth. Her strength would surge soon.
Compared to Lan An's own fusions, hers was child's play. The earth spirit willingly yielded, its essence flooding her body as liquid gold. She needed only absorb and preserve its sentience. Once complete, the little bear could manifest unscathed.
Lan An strode into the academy flanked by his flower-like wives—instant pandemonium.
The Rear Palace was legend here. Students worshipped; even professors claimed fandom.
Less than two years enrolled, one mission—and he shook the star. No past or future peer could match it.
The Sacred Spirit Board now seemed quaint. Most of the Wife Legion had ascended to the Golden Board—the true cosmic stage.
Former board luminaries like Wang Ba of Heavenly Mountain Immortal Realm or Bing Ao, Seventh Prince of Ice Profound Empire, had progressed. Yet beside Lan An's deeds? Dim flickers. They could only sigh at being born in the wrong era, crushed beneath a monster's shadow.
Back at the Wife Legion compound, Lan An froze.
"Lan An, bear my son!"
"Let us scrub floors for the Wife Legion!"
"Rear Palace sisters—any maid openings?"
"Star Chart Fairy Bai Su Mai, I adore you…"
"No—Water Desolation Fairy reigns supreme, scram!"
A human sea—thousands deep, male and female, faces fevered—screamed devotion.
They surged like a tidal wave.
Lan An and his wives exchanged stunned glances. They had expected noise—but not this.
Lan An's heart swelled. In my past life, only global superstars knew this madness. Now… I live it.
Still, the roar was deafening. These were fellow students—beating them senseless wasn't an option.
Qin Mengying stepped forward, teacher's authority blazing. Threats and bribes took nearly an hour to clear the mob.
"Lan An, please…" A lone girl, early twenties, tear-streaked, refused to leave.
Qin Mengying frowned. My dignity as instructor means nothing? "Student, what is so urgent?"
"Save my little sister! It's all because of your Rear Palace—sob!" The girl wailed.
Lan An's group stiffened. He darkened. "Speak clearly. Who is your sister? How is the Rear Palace involved?"
"Sob… I'm Tang Ru. My sister Tang Nhu—cute, innocent—was taken by Nangong Gang. Their leader forced and threatened her to become his woman!"
"Nangong Gang?" Nangong Wenyun jolted, dread pooling.
Tang Ru nodded frantically. "Founded by Nangong Clan Saint Nangong Lie. With the Rear Palace as backing, they strut like kings. Countless geniuses join. Nangong Lie fancies my sister—sob!"
"What?!"
Lan An's face turned thunder. The women glared at Nangong Wenyun.
She trembled with rage. Smart minds connected dots instantly. She inhaled, voice soft yet lethal: "Tang Ru—who said the Rear Palace backs Nangong Gang?"
"Nangong Lie himself! He brags he's Nangong Wenyun's cousin—Wenyun is Rear Palace! Oppose him, oppose the Rear Palace—face annihilation!" Tang Ru quavered, courage born of sisterly love.
"Bastard!" the wives hissed.
Nangong Wenyun flushed crimson. Nangong Lie had once schemed for her. She hadn't settled that debt—now he dared use her name, the Rear Palace's, to bully the weak?
Killing intent crystallized.
Lan An gently clasped her hand. Calm. To Tang Ru: "What else has Nangong Gang done? How many victims? Why no report to enforcers or instructors?"
Tang Ru shook her head. "Enforcers fawn over Nangong Lie—confirmed clan ties with Wenyun. He only demands monthly resources and one beauty from rival gangs. No deaths—so no uproar."
Qin Mengying ground her teeth. Filth in my academy? Unacceptable.
Good thing Master is in the pearl—else she'd level the grounds with one punch.
"Nangong Clan is no better," Tang Ru whispered. "They accept gifts everywhere, promising Rear Palace protection."
Nangong Wenyun's eyes flashed gold—murder made manifest. "I'll handle Nangong Lie. The Nangong Clan… ceases to exist."
Her parents dead, she owed them nothing. Using the Rear Palace's name? Unforgivable.
"No need to dirty your hands," Lan An agreed, soothing.
"Their existence is the filth," she countered, seizing Tang Ru's hand. Golden light streaked skyward.
"I'll root out every complicit rat," Qin Mengying snarled, vanishing in a spatial tear.
"Don't let it weigh on you, Husband," Yan Ruoxue murmured, squeezing his hand. "Opportunists always crawl from the cracks."
Li Zhulan and Mu Ziyin exhaled. Thank heavens we purged Heavenly Wood Sect with Husband—else they'd abuse our names too.
Lan An had gifted the Li Clan lavish dowry—Li Zhulan still glowed.
"Enter the compound, ladies. I'll turn in the mission and start Fire Fusion Pills." Lan An smiled.
"I'm coming!" Diem Honglian blurted. He did all this for my physique—I owe him company.
"No issue…" Lan An chuckled, reading her heart.
"Don't hog him, Sister!" Diem Dieqing teased, leading the others inside.
"Brat!" Diem Honglian huffed, looping Lan An's arm around her waist.
They strolled toward Mission Hall.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—eyes venomous.
"Lan An… enjoy your moment. When Blood Spirit Sect rules Yue Long Star, you die first. Your women? My playthings."
Blood Child of Blood Spirit Sect—Lan An's old entrance exam rival. Most sect members here weren't students; they flaunted power or cherry-picked missions.
He knew the sect's surface branch fell. The true plan—underground—neared fruition.
"Lan An returns… time to vanish." Blood Child slipped away.
Fire Fusion Pill ingredients:
Calm Flame Grass
Fusion Spirit Grass
Fire Ginseng
Fire Ruby Milk
Fifth-Grade Fire Beast Core
Lan An had all—save Fusion Spirit Grass.
The mission: Hunt Chapter Fish on western Sea Continent, gather seven Fifth-Grade+ cores—reward 14,000 Accumulation Points and two Fusion Spirit Grass.
Points meant nothing. The grass—key to forging Diem Honglian's Great Sun God Body—meant everything.
At Mission Hall, eyes locked on them. Lan An's Sea Continent trip was public—yet the cosmic upheaval? Unprecedented.
"Lan An! Fusion Spirit Grass—take it, gift from this old man. No need to turn in!"
A sprightly elder rushed forth, clutching glowing sprigs.
"Senior?" Lan An cupped fists. A academy ancient—but nameless to him.
"Heh heh, this old man is Fifth Elder, issuer of the Chapter Fish mission!" The elder beamed, eyes warm.
Joking? Lan An is the academy's golden goose. None dare scorn his realm—with that Master above… Fifth Elder seizes the chance to bond.
Lan An produced a sack of cores—countless, casually reaped while hunting mermaids.
"No need! Gift!" The elder shoved the grass into Lan An's hands.
Cores were trivial; friendship with Lan An—priceless.
Lan An laughed, catching the elder's intent. He pressed the sack back. "Cores are useless to me. Keep them, Senior."
The elder pocketed them, then rubbed his hands slyly. "Lan An… this old man has a granddaughter—flower-like beauty, admires you deeply. Care for a meeting?"
Pfft.
Lan An nearly choked. A late Body Integration powerhouse—pimping his granddaughter?
"Tch." Diem Honglian snorted, displeased.
"Ahem… busy lately, Senior. Another time for the lady." Lan An deflected politely.
"Plenty of chances—you're academy family!" The elder caught Diem Honglian's glare, chuckled, and faded into the void.
"Happy now, Husband?" Diem Honglian pinched his waist.
"Heh, the higher my value, the wiser my wives' choice!" Lan An grinned shamelessly.
Hand in hand, they left.
Two fragrant silhouettes darted from the dark, blocking their path.
Lan An's soul trembled inexplicably. Diem Honglian's eyes sparkled.
"Twin ultimate-grade beauties…"