Lan Xuan stirred groggily, seeing her younger sister Lan Li still unconscious beside her. Recalling Lan An's final words, her expression turned ashen, like a funeral procession. She had never felt such despair.
"Awake?"
A steady voice rang out. Lan Xuan jolted, spotting Lan An approaching. She immediately lowered her head and whispered: "Big Brother…"
Lan An sighed inwardly. Hearing this little girl call him "Big Brother," a protective urge surged within him. Unless your heart was made of iron, it was impossible to dislike such kind and adorable sisters.
"If Lan Polie falls into my hands, I'll spare him once!"
Lan An declared abruptly in a low voice.
Lan Xuan's slender frame trembled. Her once-dull eyes flashed with light. Wide-eyed, lips stammering: "Big Brother… you truly won't kill Father?"
Lan Li, still unconscious, seemed to sense it. Like a kitten, she rubbed her eyes. Hearing her sister, she snapped awake, staring at Lan An—afraid she'd misheard.
"Correct. One Lan Polie? Worthless without the Lan Clan!" Lan An snorted decisively.
"Wonderful!"
Lan Xuan and Lan Li leapt in joy, beautiful as pear blossoms in the rain. They suddenly threw themselves into his embrace.
Lan An caught his sisters. Seeing their radiant happiness, he silently affirmed Mother's wisdom: Sometimes, step back once for the perfect outcome.
"Best Big Brother…" Lan Xuan beamed, the heavy weight in her heart swept away.
"Big Brother! Then Second—" Lan Li timidly began.
"Hm?" Lan An's eyes narrowed.
"N-Nothing!" Lan Li shook her head like a rattle, terrified of angering him.
Lan An now led a mighty faction—his aura carried unspoken authority. The sisters knew Father's life was his absolute limit.
The twins exchanged sighs. Lan Yu left faint impressions—jealousy in rare encounters. No real bond.
Compared to Second Brother, Big Brother's tragic childhood evoked deeper sympathy. They wanted to heal his wounds with genuine affection.
"Rest well. Big Brother's stepping out." Lan An set them on the bed and exited to the Wife Legion hall.
"Sister… what about Second Brother now?" Lan Li whispered worriedly, dreading the day Big Brother killed him.
"Sigh. Second Brother's strong—he'll protect himself. But he owes Big Brother immensely. If he courts death opposing him… I can't plead." Lan Xuan exhaled. After the clan's sins against Lan An, she had no face to beg for anyone else.
Lan Li drooped. Perfection is rare in this world.
"Husband, Lan Ying Gang fled entirely with the Lan Clan!"
As Lan An emerged, Bai Sumai rushed over, linking arms regretfully.
Lan Ying Gang—formed by Lan Clan geniuses—followed the clan to Heavenly Demon Academy for refuge.
Joking? Stay and await Lan An's vengeance? Only Lan Xuan and Lan Li remained of the Lans in Sacred Spirit Academy.
"Yan Diyan Gang?" Yan Honglian's eyes gleamed.
"Disbanded after Sister Yueqi crushed the Yan Clan. Most saw the decline and left," Bing Lin'er grinned.
A woman approached shyly. "Master!"
"Well done. Reward." Lan An praised Han Shen—his Yan Diyan infiltrator. Her timely intel enabled Mengying and Su Yan to aid Yueqi's purge.
Han Shen beamed, accepting the pouch without peeking—Lan An's gifts were never ordinary.
"Train hard. Future awaits." Inside: Spirit-Grade Top-Tier Technique, Youth Retaining Pills, massive Spirit Stones—life-changing, yet no intimacy.
Han Shen briefly envied the wives, bowed respectfully, and departed.
Watching her vanish, Li Zhulan added: "Nangong Gang dissolved by Wenyun. Nangong Lie expelled for abusing Rear Palace name—pressuring countless girls. Died to his former pawns. His enabler enforcer stripped of rank—coincidentally Mu Xing's master, who once strutted at my home."
"Nangong Clan?" Lan An nodded—wives handle everything.
"Wenyun's there. Outcome unknown," Mu Ziyin chimed.
Lan An stroked Little Shi curled in his arms, smiling: "Little Shi—aid Wenyun if needed."
Little Shi nodded obediently. Her form flashed into purple lightning, piercing space—instantly gone.
Nangong Clan had an early Void Refining ancestor. Though Wenyun could leap realms, if he fled into void space? Little Shi ensured finality.
Sensing Xiao Qingquan exiting Time Acceleration Array, Lan An grasped Yan Honglian's hand: "Honglian… your moment."
Her eyes blazed. They entered Spirit Realm Pearl.
The wives smiled at each other: "Rear Palace gains another titan!"
"Husband, one furnace—nine Fire Fusion Pills!"
Xiao Qingquan emerged weary after one array-day (ten real days). Her stunning face pale. Lan An pulled her fragrant, exhausted body close, hot breath whispering: "Tonight—I compensate."
"Rogue!"
She huffed, cheeks flushing from pale to crimson. Shoving the vial into his hand, she vanished.
"Giggle—such an innocent maiden!" Yan Honglian teased.
Smack…
Lan An spanked her plump rear, carrying her to Crimson Lotus Palace.
"Mm, Husband…!"
Her scorching breath ignited him. Lips locked fiercely, wet tongues entwined—parting only when breathless.
"Preview. Full meal post-Great Sun God Body." He grinned.
"Hateful!" She huffed, yet sat cross-legged, eager for power.
"Jin'er—usage?" Lan An asked inwardly.
"One pill first. More if pain overwhelms. Nine pills, nine phases. None can aid." Jin'er grave.
"Painful?"
Jin'er rolled eyes: "Each physique forms differently. Great Sun God Body incinerates her to ash—then rebirth. Painless? Pills mitigate only."
Lan An inhaled, explaining to Yan Honglian—preparing her mentally.
Seeing his worry, she smiled sweetly: "I'll endure. What my mother and yours suffered was worse, no?"
"First pill." He fed her, fingers playfully licked.
Demoness. He set the eight-pill vial beside her: "Ready?"
"Come at me!" She nodded fiercely.
"System—grant Great Sun God Body to Yan Honglian!"
Keng! Activated!
Abruptly, a colossal sun erupted from Lan An—engulfing Crimson Lotus Palace, swallowing Yan Honglian. Even system-controlled, heat warped the pearl's space—melting signs.
Lan An shielded with Purple Thunder. It could burn me too.
"Mmm…"
A stifled moan from within. Yan Honglian suppressed screams to spare his worry.
Lan An's heart ached. White Moon Soul Snatch Eye activated—Penetrate Weakness probed, but saw only sunfire.
Gritting teeth, he left helplessly.
VWOOM…
Suddenly, the Primal Chaos Flame Sun suspended in the pearl's sky extracted a tiny energy sliver—merging with Yan Honglian's forge.
"Resonance?!" Jin'er leapt from his shoulder, stunned.
"Benefit?"
"Primal Chaos Flame births most fires. Great Sun mastery—synergy only helps. Unknown outcome!" Jin'er stammered.
Lan An rejoiced silently. No jealousy—only pride.
"Yueqi's at climax too."
Atop Palace Tree's third tier, Yueqi Palace radiated arrogant dominance.
Kim Wu Bloodline—three drops Warm Blood Essence from missions—refined post-Hundred Flowers. Peak Void Refining to top-tier Rear Palace.
Warm Blood Essence was rare—Lan An's Lucky Shop Refreshes yielded only three more.
"Brat—prep fast. Eight Gates Evasion Armor is ours, heh heh!" Wu Sanniang swooped in, excited.
"I want it—but Man Huang Star has Giant Demon and Giant Han clans drooling," Lan An cautioned.
They'd annihilate the Giant Race for it. Practicing there risked endless hunts.
"Scared? Sneak-train. Man Huang dwarfs Yue Long. Most Body Cultivators lack divine sense. Worst—hide!" Wu Sanniang slung an arm around him. Not training a divine art is idiocy.
Logical. She knew the terrain. Lan An nodded: "After Ice Profound Empire—we train."
"Ice Profound? Proposing to Lan Xiji? The old emperor groveled recently! Name-drop—they'll gift princess to empress!" Wu Sanniang roared.
Lan An twitched. Just the princess…
Not every beauty was Hua Qingzhu.
"Master—Tribulation Realm bones on Man Huang?" Hope flickered.
Wu Sanniang stroked her chin, then shrugged: "Relax. Worst case—I slay an Eight Revolution for your bones!"