Yuelong Star Realm…
Although the victory in the Prodigy Tournament had successfully preserved the dignity of the Cultivation World, many understood that this triumph was entirely due to the explosive intervention of the Harem at the critical moment.
Had the Yuelong Star Realm been without the Harem, the Golden Heaven Board would have changed hands, the Blood Sovereign Domain would have asserted its dominance, and the morale of the Cultivation World would have plummeted—an unthinkable catastrophe. Furthermore, having witnessed a mere fraction of the Blood Sovereign Domain's power—all at the Tribulation Transcendence Realm—and the terrifying primordial force within the Blood King's Spirit Blood, countless experts dared not underestimate this invading force.
In light of this, the Blood Extermination Alliance was swiftly established, outlining a strategic blueprint for the future. Formed by an alliance of myriad powers, it set forth rigorous common regulations:
First, should the Blood Sovereign Domain invade any sect, the nearest neighboring powers must provide immediate reinforcements. Any intentional failure to assist would be branded as an act of treason, granting the Alliance the right to annihilate the offender.
Second, the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, in collaboration with Principal Bai Wusheng, would install a network of massive Teleportation Arrays across major cities to serve as vital strategic hubs, allowing for instantaneous reinforcements across the realms.
Third, during the conflict with the Blood Sovereign Domain, all personal vendettas must be cast aside; all sects must unite with one heart to repel the external foe.
Fourth, to maintain the fragile balance of power, those at the Tribulation Transcendence Realm were forbidden from participating in any battle involving the Blood Sovereign Domain for the upcoming year.
Finally, a Supreme High Council was formed, consisting of the core powers possessing Tribulation Transcendence experts: the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, Holy Spirit Academy, Bailing Academy, Heavenly Demon Academy, Xuanhuang Academy, Heavenly Secret Hall, Seven Killings Sect, the Dan Clan, the Beast Taming War Sect, Spirit Elf Island, and the Harem.
Of these eleven factions, Spirit Elf Island was represented by two esteemed Seniors of the Kao Clan, thereby granting them a rightful seat upon the Council.
Any crucial decisions regarding the resistance against the Blood Sovereign Domain would be put to a vote in the event of a conflict of interest; the path favored by the majority would be implemented. Furthermore, the Council established the "Contribution Board." Those who hunted and slew more experts from the Blood Sovereign Domain would ascend the rankings and receive bountiful rewards from the Council, a move designed to incentivize the powerful rogue cultivators across the star to join the fray.
Recognizing that it was difficult for great powers to submit to one another, all Council members—regardless of their individual strength—were treated as equals. Thus, the formation of the Blood Extermination Alliance proceeded without much dispute, finalized within a few days of urgent deliberation.
One after another, the various powers departed from Wanjin Island, returning to prepare for the year of warfare ahead. The lower-tier sects were particularly ill at ease; some sect leaders even planned to relocate their entire sects closer to the territories of the Council members to ensure swift protection.
The Harem also set out for the Liu Clan. Above the vast, boundless ocean of Haizhou, the Dream Immortal Ship soared through the clouds, its speed neither hurried nor slow.
Liu Yuqing stood at the helm, leading the women. Their silken robes fluttered in the wind, a tableau of a thousand beauties so ethereal that no words could do them justice. It was precisely because of their celestial grace that Lan An's Prestige Points continued to rise unconsciously; the envy felt by the world toward him was simply too profound.
"Niang Qing, you should consider relocating the Haihong Sect to the vicinity of Ping'an City. That way, we can look after one another," Liu Shiqin remarked. Her pure white robes drifted, and the sigil upon her brow shone like a Moon Goddess descending to the mortal realm—elegant and dignified.
Lately, the Haihong Sect had been expanding rapidly, acting as the Harem's proxy in trading the various artifacts Lan An had left behind with the Myriad Treasure Pavilion. A significant portion of the Spirit Stones required to maintain their Time Acceleration Formations and cultivation resources came from this source.
However, given the current crisis, the sisters uniting was the only righteous path. The Haihong Sect stood isolated in Haizhou, a position that was becoming increasingly perilous.
Shui Niang Qing lightly bit her violet, shimmering lip. Her original intent had been to remain in Haizhou to focus entirely on the Haihong Sect's growth, hoping it would one day become Lan An's right hand in conquering the Haizhou Continent. Who could have foreseen the sudden emergence of the Blood Sovereign Domain, forcing her to alter her plans? Truly, man proposes, but Heaven disposes.
"Shiqin is right. Our current objective is to elevate our personal cultivation and protect our kin. Other matters can wait until Little An returns," Liu Yuqing added, her dark, enigmatic lips curling slightly as she spoke.
"Understood. The Haihong Sect will relocate to the outskirts of Ping'an City and officially declare itself a subsidiary power under the Harem's banner," Shui Niang Qing replied, no longer refusing the suggestion of her mother and aunt.
After all, the Haihong Sect specialized in Water-attribute cultivation; living in the Frozen Heaven Continent would not be difficult for them to adapt. Water and Ice were closely linked, and they could reconstruct their architecture as they pleased. Moreover, many territories had recently been pillaged by the Blood Sovereign Domain, leaving plenty of vacant land; finding a new headquarters would be a simple task.
Ya Lian Na and Ai Xin exchanged a look, their lips curved in slight smiles. Since Shui Niang Qing was the Sect Master of the Haihong Sect, the relocation was her word alone. However, the Ai Clan, Spirit Elf Island, and the Dwarf Race were different. Ai Xin and Ya Lian Na feared they lacked the influence to persuade their elders to abandon their ancestral lands; for some, leaving their roots was a fate worse than death.
Sensing their unease, Liu Yuqing smiled understandingly. "If relocation is not possible, Feng Nhi will arrange Teleportation Arrays linking the Liu Clan to Dwarf Island, Spirit Elf Island, and the Ai Clan. We can reinforce you at a moment's notice. The same will be done for Hua Zhu City and the Ruan Clan."
"It shall be done," Feng Yufeng smiled. Arranging such arrays was no longer a daunting task for her. Although the Myriad Treasure Pavilion and Bai Wusheng were handling the public network, it was always better for family to have their own private safeguards.
"Mother is the best!" Ai Xin chirped happily, leaning in to give Liu Yuqing a playful kiss on the cheek. Among the Harem, she was the most attached to her mother-in-law; their shared history had forged a bond no different from that of blood mother and daughter.
"Mother… is good," Ya Lian Na added. Since she had not yet been officially wed into the house, her words were a bit stiff, causing the other women to cover their mouths and giggle. Only Bing Feifei looked on with deep empathy; she too was not yet used to the address… that "wicked man" had not yet entered her chambers, after all.
"This won't do… I must convince Mother to marry me off to Brother Lan An quickly. Only then will Spirit Elf Island and the Harem truly become one family!" The little elf A'Nhi, who was playing with Lan Li, Lan Xuan, and Lian Hua, pricked up her pointed ears and eavesdropped, a firm resolve forming in her heart.
This time, Ai Xi Chen had wanted to take her home, but A'Nhi had thrown a tearful tantrum, refusing to leave. Having finally gained the chance to play outside, how could she bear to return? In the end, Ya Lian Na had promised to care for her, and a helpless Ai Xi Chen was forced to return alone.
Liu Yuqing had originally intended to speak with Ai Xi Chen, but ultimately decided against it. She did not yet have enough "bargaining chips" to persuade this daughter-in-law who she found so pleasing to the eye.
"Who goes there?"
Suddenly, Hua Qing Zhu and Yan Yue Qi turned solemn. Their peerless auras surged as they stared coldly at the void ahead. The other women who had reached the Body Integration Realm also took on stern expressions.
"Do not be alarmed. It is my guest," Liu Yuqing signaled for them to calm down.
Sure enough, the space ahead rippled open, and two breathtakingly beautiful figures appeared.
The woman in the lead possessed a charm that could enchant the heavens and the earth. Even the sky seemed to pale before her countenance, and the very ground seemed to wither in envy of her sultry grace. Several soft, fluffy tails swayed behind her, a visual feast of predatory elegance.
It was the Fox Clan Leader—Hu Qingwu. Born with the Heavenly Innate Charm Bone, her allure was many times more potent than that of the previous Su Mi.
At this moment, Hu Qingwu wore no veil. Though the women of the Harem were all kingdom-toppling beauties in their own right, they could not help but gasp at her visage, an involuntary sense of goodwill rising in their hearts. This was a terrifying realization—if they were enemies, such a sudden surge of affection could lead to fatal consequences.
Behind her stood Hu Yuyan, her disciple, who—though a rare beauty herself—seemed somewhat eclipsed by her master's radiance.
"It has been a long time," Kun Mingyue, being the most familiar with Hu Qingwu, greeted her. Her noble aura was now tempered with the mature grace of a wedded woman, her beauty exquisite.
Hu Qingwu looked at Kun Mingyue with a complex expression and nodded. "I have some news regarding your Kun Clan. The current Kun Huang is not faring very well."
Though her voice was natural, it held an unconscious, soul-stirring sweetness that made the women's skin crawl. It was difficult to imagine what would happen if the man of their house were to be near such a woman. Little did they know, their man had already "harassed" her once before.
"Thank you for the warning," a flicker of killing intent flashed in Kun Mingyue's eyes. From Hu Qingwu's words, she immediately deduced that this involved her Royal Uncle. It seemed that the foolish boy Kun Huang was still causing her worry.
"Yue Qi, make the time to accompany Mingyue on a trip to the Kun Clan," Liu Yuqing said calmly.
"Yes, Mother," Yan Yue Qi and Kun Mingyue nodded obediently.
This scene caused Hu Qingwu's expression to shift slightly. Liu Yuqing's authority as the undisputed matriarch of the Harem was clear; even Yan Yue Qi, who possessed superior strength, obeyed her without question.
Taking a deep breath, Hu Qingwu looked at Liu Yuqing. "I wonder what Fellow Daoist Liu meant by her words earlier?"
The other women looked at their mother-in-law with curiosity, unaware of when Liu Yuqing had made contact with Hu Qingwu. They did not know that a single, mysterious Divine Sense transmission from Liu Yuqing had been enough to compel the leader of a Ninth-Grade power to pay a personal visit.
"My words were meant literally," Liu Yuqing smiled faintly. "Clan Leader Hu, if you and the Fox Clan do not wish to suffer humiliation or even extinction, you should hear me out."
Hu Qingwu's face paled. Though she had heard it once before, hearing it again left her heart filled with doubt and silence. Hu Yuyan was no exception; no wonder her master had been so anxious.
Liu Yuqing chuckled, and amidst the confusion of the Harem sisters, she spoke:
"Since ancient times, it has been said that a peerless beauty often meets a tragic fate. Especially in times of chaos, a great beauty easily becomes a mere toy in the hands of others."
"Pray, enlighten me," Hu Qingwu replied, her voice tinged with a slight chill.
"I have observed closely. The leaders of the three great powers in the Youyuan—be it Ba Li Jiao Huang, Kun Liehai, or even Niu Wuba—whenever they look upon you, their eyes are filled with nothing but greed and unbridled lust," Liu Yuqing said, meeting Hu Qingwu's gaze directly.
Hu Qingwu nodded; this was a fact she knew better than anyone.
"Furthermore, even that group of Blood Envoys and the Demon Emperor are no exception," Liu Yuqing's eyes flickered.
Hu Qingwu's expression changed. She hadn't paid much attention to those individuals. After all, they wore masks, and with her personality, she had no interest in observing their gazes.
"Haha, though the Blood Envoys cultivate Blood Qi, they are still male. It is only natural for them to be moved by your beauty. Not to mention, I hear the Fox Clan is comprised entirely of beauties. It is easy to imagine that in the future, the Blood Sovereign Domain might show the Fox Clan some 'special favor,'" Liu Yuqing spoke lightheartedly, but her words sent a shiver down Hu Yuyan's spine.
"According to the regulations of the Blood Extermination Alliance, if the Fox Clan is attacked, the nearby powers—the Heavenly Demon Academy, the Kun Clan, and the Jiao Clan—must come to our aid…" Hu Qingwu started to speak, but she immediately realized the hidden catch.
"Haha, that is precisely the point! Whether it be the leaders of the Jiao Clan, the Kun Clan, or the Heavenly Demon Academy, they all harbor designs for you. Who can guarantee they won't make certain 'friendly' demands during the process of resisting the Blood Sovereign Domain? Perhaps a marriage alliance to make the relationship between your powers 'even closer'?" Liu Yuqing laughed softly.
The women of the Harem were startled. Indeed, such a possibility was very real.
Taking advantage of a crisis was a common tactic. In normal times, with the Fox Clan at peace, those men would have no excuse to make a move on Hu Qingwu. But now, the threat of the Blood Sovereign Domain provided the perfect pretext.
"Could it be that the three of them would actually fight one another for me?" Hu Qingwu's willow-leaf brows furrowed. She still underestimated just how vast her own charm truly was.
"They won't fight each other for you. On the contrary, they might cooperate quite 'enthusiastically.' For instance, they might allow the Blood Sovereign Domain to slaughter half of the Fox Clan first. Then, at your moment of ultimate despair, one of them will appear to play the hero, repelling the enemy and winning your heart. He would then 'protect' you for the rest of your life. What a touching tale of love that would be," Liu Yuqing sighed with mock sentimentality.
Hu Qingwu's supple body trembled violently. This scenario… it was entirely plausible.
When that happened, the Blood Extermination Alliance would have no grounds to criticize the Heavenly Demon Academy or the others. After all, they did come to the rescue; they were simply… a little late.
"That was but one example I conjured at random. There are ten thousand other ways to seize the beauty and the glory at once. Rest assured, men like Niu Wuba who have climbed to their positions are all old foxes. A few schemes are nothing to them…" Liu Yuqing added one final blow.
Hu Qingwu bit her lip hard. As the leader of a race, she knew Liu Yuqing's words were not baseless. It was simply that she had never wanted to face this grave reality until now. Her heaven-sent beauty might very well be the spark that ignited the destruction of the Fox Clan.