Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Huo Yue(R18)
"Haoran..." Huo Yue whispered, but her words were cut off as Haoran took her lips.
Her eyes widened for a brief moment, but she eventually closed her eyes, her hands on his chest as he brought her closer, as if wanting to be one with her.
Without breaking the kiss, Haoran opened the door and gently pushed Huo Yue inside.
'Oh hell nah.' Fairy Liu, who was deep in Huo Yue's ring, tried to pretend to sleep. '...maybe, just a peek?'
She was curious. She was a few centuries old, and with how she usually stays in her alchemy room, she rarely even saw people kiss.
'...maybe, maybe just a little bit?'
Haoran deepened the kiss, his lips pressing firmly against Huo Yue's as he kicked the door shut behind them.
The room was dimly lit by a single lamp on the nightstand, casting soft shadows over the king-sized bed and the scattered pillows.
He could feel her breath hitch, her inexperience evident in the tentative way her mouth moved against his, but that only fueled his desire to guide her.
Just then, their teeth clashed against each other, forcing them to break the kiss.
Huo Yue's eyes widened, "S-Sorry, Haoran... I, I didn't mean—"
"Shh, just relax," he murmured against her lips, his voice low and reassuring.
One of his hands slid from her waist to her back, pulling her closer until their bodies aligned—her large, soft curves molding against his harder frame.
His other hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing her jawline as he tilted her head for better access, teaching her the rhythm of a proper kiss.
His tongue teased the seam of her lips, coaxing them apart until she yielded, allowing him to explore her mouth with slow, deliberate strokes.
Huo Yue's hands clutched at his robe, her fingers twisting the fabric as a soft whimper escaped her.
The taste of him—warm and slightly minty—overwhelmed her senses, sending sparks down her spine.
She was a virgin, completely untouched but extremely curious, so she really felt afraid that Haoran would get disappointed at her for her bad performance, but Haoran's patient expertise made her feel relieved even as heat pooled between her thighs.
He broke the kiss just enough to trail his lips along her jaw, nipping lightly at the sensitive skin.
"Back then was your first kiss, isn't it?" he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "Don't worry, I'll guide you. Kissing is about testing each other's responses. Feel how your body responds? That's the start."
"Mn." Huo Yue meekly nodded.
His hand on her back dipped lower, fingers splaying over the curve of her ass, squeezing gently through her skirt to introduce her to the thrill of touch.
He guided her toward the bed, their steps clumsy in their embrace, until the backs of her knees hit the mattress.
Easing her down onto the soft sheets, Haoran hovered over her, his weight supported on one elbow.
He captured her lips again, this time slower, showing her how to suckle on his lower lip, how to let her tongue dance with his.
As they kissed, his free hand roamed upward, tracing the line of her collarbone before slipping beneath the neckline of her robes.
His fingers found the swell of her breast, thumb circling her nipple through the thin fabric of her bra until it hardened into a peak.
"Like this," he breathed, breaking away to watch her face.
Huo Yue's eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, but she nodded, arching slightly into his touch.
He took off the top of her robe with deliberate slowness, exposing more skin, and leaned down to press open-mouthed kisses along her neck, down to the valley between her breasts.
His hand kneaded her flesh, teaching her the building ache of arousal, while his other hand stroked her thigh, inching the hem of her skirt higher.
The air in the room grew thicker, charged with anticipation as Haoran's cock strained against his pants, but he held back, focused on her pleasure.
"Tell me what feels good," he encouraged, his voice husky. "We're just getting started, this kind of thing shouldn't be rushed, after all. We should be focusing on savoring every touch and every sensation, before we go further."
"...yeah, o-okay..." Huo Yue's breath came in shallow gasps as Shen Haoran's fingers continued their teasing exploration over her breast, the thin barrier of her bra doing little to dull the sensation.
He pinched her nipple lightly between thumb and forefinger, rolling it until she arched her back, a soft moan slipping from her lips.
"Good," he praised, his voice a low rumble that vibrated against her skin. "Your body knows what it wants, so just let it guide you."
It is an instinct of every living thing. Even a virgin's body knew exactly where it would feel good.
He shifted his weight, settling between her legs without pressing too hard, his thigh brushing against the inside of hers as the friction sent a jolt through her core, and she instinctively parted her thighs wider, as if inviting more.
Haoran's hand left her breast to trail downward, over the smooth plane of her stomach, hooking his fingers into the waistband of her skirt.
With a gentle tug, he eased it up her hips, exposing the lace edges of her panties as his palm flattened against her inner thigh, stroking upward in slow, firm circles, inching closer to her heat but not quite touching.
"Caressing is a great way to build tension and anticipation," he explained, his lips brushing her earlobe as he spoke. "It let's us feel each other's warmth."
Huo Yue nodded, her hands fumbling to grip his shoulders, nails digging in as anticipation coiled tight in her belly.
She could feel the dampness growing between her legs, her pussy aching for attention she didn't fully understand yet.
Haoran kissed her neck again, sucking lightly to leave a faint mark, then moved lower.
He pushed her robe open further, unclasping her bra with a practiced flick as her large breasts spilled free, her nipples already erect in the cool air.
He took one into his mouth, tongue swirling around the hardened peak while his hand kneaded the other.
"H-Haoran...t-that's way too embarrassing..." Huo Yue whimpered, her hips bucking slightly as pleasure shot straight to her clit.
He suckled harder, teeth grazing just enough to make her gasp, then soothed with gentle laps.
Releasing her breast with a wet pop, he looked up at her flushed face.
"Touch me back," he encouraged, guiding one of her hands to his chest.
"O-Okay..." She nodded, her fingers trembled as she explored the firm muscles under his robe, tracing down to his belt.
He groaned softly when she brushed over the bulge of his cock, hard and throbbing against the fabric. "That's it, nice and slow."
His hand finally reached her panties, fingers pressing over the damp crotch as he rubbed in slow circles, feeling her clit swell under the touch.
Huo Yue cried out, her body jerking at the direct contact.
"So wet already," he murmured approvingly, slipping a finger beneath the edge to stroke her slick folds.
He parted her lips gently, circling her entrance without pushing in, letting her get used to the intimacy.
Her pussy clenched around nothing, her juices coating his fingers as he teased her clit with feather-light flicks.
"Tell me if it's too much," he said, though his eyes darkened with lust.
He added a second finger, sliding them up and down her slit, coating them before pressing just the tip of one inside her.
Huo Yue tensed, then relaxed as he curled it slightly, stroking her inner walls, his thumb worked her clit in tandem, building the pressure until her thighs quivered.
Haoran's free hand pinned her hip lightly, keeping her steady as he pumped his finger slowly in and out, stretching her virgin tightness.
He leaned down to capture her mouth in a deep kiss, swallowing her moans.
The room filled with the sounds of their heavy breathing and the wet slide of his fingers against her pussy.
He could feel her getting closer, her body trembling on the edge, but he eased off just enough to prolong the lesson, drawing out every shiver and gasp.
"Mmmh~!" Huo Yue's moans grew louder, muffled against Haoran's lips as his finger thrust deeper into her pussy, the slick walls gripping him tightly.
He added a second finger, scissoring them gently to stretch her further, feeling her virgin entrance yield with each slow push.
Her hips rocked instinctively, chasing the building rhythm, while his thumb circled her clit faster, pressing harder to heighten the sparks shooting through her nerves.
He broke the kiss, trailing his mouth down her jaw to her collarbone, nipping at the skin before latching onto her breast again.
His tongue flicked over her nipple, sucking it deep into his mouth as his fingers curled inside her, rubbing against that sensitive spot that made her cry out.
His cock strained against his pants, leaking pre-cum as he watched her face contort in pleasure, her eyes half-lidded and lips parted.
Huo Yue's hand, still on his pants, fumbled, her fingers shaking from the overload of sensations.
Haoran helped her, shoving his pants down just enough to free his thick cock as it sprang out, the head glistening from pre cum.
Her eyes widened at the sight, her curiosity mixing with her arousal.
After all, this is the first time she had seen one.
"Touch it," he instructed, wrapping her hand around the shaft.
She stroked tentatively, feeling the heat and the pulse beneath the skin, her thumb brushing over the slit at the tip.
Haoran hissed through his teeth, thrusting lightly into her grip. "Squeeze a little, yes, perfect."
He rewarded her by plunging his fingers deeper, his palm grinding against her clit with each motion.
Her pussy clenched around him, her juices dripping down his hand as she neared the edge again.
He slowed deliberately, pulling his fingers out almost completely before sliding them back in, teasing her with the promise of release.
Shifting lower, he kissed a path down her stomach, his breath hot against her skin as he hooked his fingers into her panties, peeling them off her hips and down her legs, tossing them aside.
Now fully exposed, her pussy glistened with arousal, her folds swollen and pink as Haoran spread her thighs wider, settling between them.
He leaned in, inhaling her scent before pressing a kiss to her inner thigh, then higher, until his lips brushed her clit.
Huo Yue gasped, her hands flying to his hair.
"What—!?* she started, but the words dissolved into a whine as his tongue licked a long stripe up her slit, tasting her sweetness.
He lapped at her entrance, gathering her wetness on his tongue, then sucked her clit between his lips, flicking it rapidly.
"Ah~!" Her back arched off the bed, legs trembling as waves of pleasure crashed over her.
He held her hips down with one hand, the other sliding two fingers back inside her pussy, pumping in time with his mouth's attentions.
He then increased the pace, his tongue swirling around her clit while his fingers thrust harder, curling to hit that spot repeatedly.
Huo Yue's body tensed, her breaths coming in ragged pants as the pressure built unbearably, coiling tight until it snapped.
"Ah~!" She came with a sharp cry, her pussy spasming around his fingers, flooding his mouth with her release.
He didn't stop, licking her through the orgasm, drawing out every quiver until she slumped as if she was boneless, panting heavily.
Haoran pulled back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes dark with hunger as he crawled up her body, kissing her deeply so she could taste herself on his lips.
"How was that?" he asked, his cock nudging against her thigh, hot and insistent. "Did it feel good?"
Huo Yue nodded weakly, her cheeks burning, but a shy smile tugged at her lips.
"Incredible," she whispered, her hand reaching down to stroke him again, more confidently now.
He groaned, guiding her movements, teaching her the rhythm. "Now, let's see what else you can handle."
His fingers traced her entrance once more, slick with her cum, as he positioned himself, ready to push her further into the night's lessons.
Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Huo Yue(R18)
The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast warm shadows across the room, illuminating the rumpled sheets where Haoran and Huo Yue lay entwined.
Their bodies pressed close, skin flushed from the tender kisses and caresses that had built over the past hour.
Haoran's hands roamed slowly over her curves, tracing the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, and the gentle rise of her hips.
He had taken his time undressing her, peeling away each layer with deliberate care, whispering words of reassurance into her ear.
Huo Yue's heart raced, a mix of excitement and nervousness fluttering in her chest.
This was her first time, and though she trusted Haoran completely, the unknown still sent a shiver through her.
He propped himself up on one elbow, his golden eyes locking onto hers as his free hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing softly against her lower lip.
"Are you afraid?" Haoran asked, his voice low and soothing, like a gentle breeze.
Huo Yue swallowed, her breath coming in shallow bursts, but she shook her head, the movement small but determined.
"No," she whispered, though her voice trembled slightly. "Just... Just, be gentle. Please."
A warm smile spread across Haoran's face, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her forehead, then her lips, tasting the faint salt of her anticipation.
"Don't worry, I'll be gentle," he murmured against her mouth. "I promise. We'll go as slow as you need."
His words were a vow, steady and sincere as he shifted his body over hers, settling between her thighs with care, not wanting to rush or overwhelm her.
Huo Yue's legs parted instinctively, her body opening to him under the guidance of his hands.
He stroked the inside of her thighs, his touch feather-light, coaxing her muscles to relax.
She felt the heat of his skin against hers, the weight of him comforting rather than heavy.
Lowering his gaze, Haoran positioned himself at her entrance, his cock hard and throbbing, but he held back, letting the tip just brush against her slick folds.
She was wet from his earlier attentions—his fingers had explored her pussy with patience, circling her clit until she moaned, dipping inside to prepare her without pressure.
"Take a deep breath," he instructed softly, his hand sliding up to intertwine with hers.
Huo Yue nodded, inhaling slowly, her chest rising and falling.
Haoran mirrored her breath, syncing their rhythms to ease her tension. Then, with infinite slowness, he began to push forward.
The head of his cock pressed against her tight opening, meeting the resistance of her untouched barrier.
A sharp cry escaped Huo Yue's lips as he inched inside, the stretch burning like fire.
Pain lanced through her core, her body clenching instinctively around the intrusion.
Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she gripped his hand tighter as she gasped, her voice breaking.
Haoran froze immediately, his body stilling despite the overwhelming urge to thrust deeper.
"Sorry, did I hurt you?" he soothed, his free hand coming up to wipe away her tears.
He didn't pull out, but he didn't move further either, letting her adjust to the fullness. "Breathe with me, Yue'er. In... and out."
He demonstrated, his chest rising against hers as blood trickled from where they joined, a thin red streak sliding down her inner thigh, marking the loss of her virginity.
Haoran focused on her comfort, pressing soft kisses to her neck, her collarbone, anywhere he could reach without shifting his hips.
Huo Yue whimpered, her nails digging into his palm, but she followed his breathing, trying to relax the vise-like grip of her pussy around his cock.
The pain was intense, a deep ache that radiated outward, but beneath it, she felt the warmth of him, the way he filled her so carefully.
Moments passed like this, Haoran murmuring endearments, stroking her hair, her arms, her sides, until her tears dried up.
"Better?" he asked, searching her face for any sign of distress.
She nodded hesitantly, her eyes meeting his. "Yeah, I'm sorry. You can...you can keep going... slowly."
She doesn't know why, she had endured the pain of being burned inside out from absorbing Heavenly Flames, but how come she was struggling with this?
Because of the pain, she probably made this a bad experience for Haoran, right? He wouldn't... be disappointed with her, will he?
"Alright, we'll take our time." he whispered.
He rocked his hips forward by the barest fraction, sinking another inch into her warmth.
Huo Yue tensed, a fresh wave of discomfort making her bite her lip, but it was less sharp this time.
He paused once more, giving her body time to yield, his thumb circling her clit in gentle, distracting motions.
The added stimulation sent sparks of pleasure through the pain, making her hips twitch involuntarily.
He continued the slow advance, each tiny thrust measured and controlled, until he was fully sheathed inside her.
Her pussy stretched around his length, gripping him tightly, the blood-smeared evidence of her innocence now mixing with her growing arousal.
Haoran groaned softly at the sensation, the heat and wetness enveloping him completely, but he held still, letting her acclimate.
Huo Yue lay there, panting, the initial agony fading into a dull throb.
At this moment, she could feel every inch of him, thick and pulsing within her, and it was overwhelming, but not entirely unpleasant.
The fullness pressed against places inside her that sparked unfamiliar tingles.
"You... you can move now... faster if you want... I, I can take it." she said breathlessly, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the tears drying on her cheeks.
Haoran chuckled lightly, relieved. "Can you?"
He began to move then, of course, he didn't actually go intense at first, but he withdrew his dick slightly and sliding back in with the utmost gentleness, like a whisper of motion.
His cock glided through her slick channel, the friction building a slow heat.
"Ah~!" she breathed, her free hand exploring his back, tracing the muscles that flexed under her touch.
As he continued the languid rhythm, the pain ebbed further, replaced by a building warmth that spread from her core.
Haoran's mouth found her breast, his tongue laving over her nipple in slow circles, sucking gently to heighten her sensations as Huo Yue arched into him, a moan escaping as pleasure began to bloom.
He kept his pace unhurried, each slide in and out deliberate, giving her time to savor the way her body responded.
Her pussy grew wetter, easing his movements, the blood now forgotten in the slick glide as Haoran's hand between them worked her clit with steady pressure, rubbing in time with his shallow thrusts.
"Tell me what you feel," he said, lifting his head to watch her expressions.
"It... it feels good~," Huo Yue admitted, her voice gaining strength. "Warm. Like you're touching everywhere inside me."
Her hips started to move with his, tentative at first, then more assured as the discomfort fully receded.
Encouraged, Haoran deepened his strokes just a touch, pulling out halfway before pressing back in, his cock dragging along her inner walls.
He kissed her deeply, tongues tangling in a slow dance that mirrored their bodies as Huo Yue's legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer, her cries shifting from pain to pleasure—soft gasps and whimpers that urged him on.
"That's my girl," Haoran praised, his breath hot against her ear.
He varied the angle slightly, tilting his hips to brush against a spot that made her gasp sharply, her pussy clenching around him in delight.
He repeated the motion, slow and precise, building the tension without haste as sweat beaded on their skin, the room filling with the wet sounds of their joining, the creak of the bed, and their mingled breaths.
Huo Yue's hands roamed freely now, clutching at his shoulders, his back, urging him deeper as the pain was now a distant memory, overwritten by waves of sensation—his cock filling her, stretching her, the pressure on her clit sending jolts straight to her core.
"Haoran... You can... you can go faster..." she moaned, her eyes half-lidded with emerging ecstasy.
He smiled down at her, his own arousal straining for release, but he tempered it for her sake.
"Alright, but I want you to come first," he said, increasing the circles on her clit just enough to push her higher.
His thrusts remained gentle, but the speed began to intensify, each one coaxing her closer to the edge as Huo Yue's body tensed, her breaths coming faster, until suddenly she shattered—her pussy spasming around his cock, a cry tearing from her throat as orgasm washed over her for the first time.
Haoran held her through it, his movements slowing to a near stop, letting her ride the waves.
Only when she relaxed beneath him, did he resume, his pace still measured but now chasing his own peak.
A few more deep slides, and he followed her over, groaning as he spilled inside her, hot cum flooding her depths.
He pulled out, his cum mixed with blood began to flow out of her gaping pussy.
Huo Yue stared at him, breathing heavily, her eyes hazy from pleasure as she felt weak, "That... That was amazing...."
Haoran smirked, "Indeed... So how about another round?"
"O-Oh," Huo Yue smiled, raising her hands to cupped his cheeks, "Come on. Use my body as you please. Enjoy it to the fullest."
Without hesitation, Haoran chuckled and kissed her, shoving his tongue into her mouth, their tongue intertwining.
After awhile, he pulled back.
"Let's try different position, this time."
The night was still young, and two are just getting started.
Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Departure
The next day.
The morning light of the Lamia Kingdom was unlike the harsh, oppressive glare of the high noon sun, instead it was a soft, filtered amber that bled through the silk curtains of the guest chambers, casting long, lazy shadows across the opulent rugs and the tangled sheets of the massive bed.
Haoran woke up feeling incredibly refreshed, a rare sensation for someone whose mind was usually a churning vortex of calculations and strategic contingencies.
For the first time in years, the "Young Master" of the Shen Clan felt a profound sense of stillness, something he haven't felt even with other girls he has been with.
He looked down at his chest, where Huo Yue was fast asleep, her breathing was rhythmic and deep, her head nestled against his pectoral muscle as if it were the safest harbor in the world.
Her skin, usually bright and energetic, seemed to glow with a new, iridescent sheen in the morning light, and her features, once those of a fiery, stubborn young girl, now seemed to possess a hint of mature charm that hadn't been there the day before.
Truly, she had climbed the stairs of adulthood.
Just then, as if sensing his gaze, Huo Yue's eyelashes fluttered.
She woke up slowly, her eyes blinking away the remnants of sleep before they focused on his face and a soft, radiant smile spread across her lips.
"Good morning..." she whispered, her voice husky and warm.
"Hmm." Haoran nodded, his hand moving to gently caress her hair, smoothing out the tangled red strands.
This moment was perfect, and he hoped that this never ends, but the reality of his station was like a shadow that never truly vanished. "Sorry, I don't want to say this to you now, but I will be leaving soon. I still have many things left to take care of."
Huo Yue's smile froze for a fraction of a second, a flicker of instinctive loneliness crossing her eyes, but she quickly recovered.
She was a cultivator who had survived the loss of her talent and the betrayal of her peers, and she knew that strength required sacrifice.
And someone coming from a big clan in the Imperial Capital, he would surely be under in a lot more pressure.
She shook her head, dismissing his apology. "No need to apologize, Haoran. I understand. You have your path, and I have mine. For now, they diverge, but only so they can meet at a higher peak."
She sat up with a fluid, confident motion, fully revealing the body that he had enjoyed last night.
There was no longer any bashfulness or hesitation in her movements; she sat on his waist, her hands resting on his shoulders as she looked down at him with an intensity that rivaled the desert sun.
"I'll go through with my new plans. Just like what I have said last night, this my oath to you. I will show you pictures and videos of my travels, documenting all the beautiful places I've seen through the artifacts. I'll be your eyes in the wilderness while your whole body is in the Capital. So when we have time... let's see them together, in person."
Haoran sat up, his hands finding their place on her hips as he looked at her—not as a resource to be managed, but as a partner.
He smiled, a expression of genuine promise. "Don't worry. I'll wait for you at the gates of the Imperial Academy. Don't make me wait too long, or I might have to come back and drag you there myself."
The two stared into each other's eyes, the air between them thick with a silent vow that needed no further words.
They leaned in, sharing a final, lingering kiss that tasted of embers and promise.
*
*
*
Later that morning, the atmosphere in the wide field surrounding the Lamia palace was chaotic and emotionally charged.
Haoran, now fully clothed in his pristine, silver-trimmed robes, stood at the center of the plaza.
His expression had returned to its usual mask of detached elegance, but his eyes remained on Huo Yue.
Around them, the scene was somewhat surreal. Hundreds of Lamias—the serpentine beauties of the desert—were gathered in mass.
Many were wearing scantily clad ceremonial silks that shimmered against their scales, and nearly all of them were bidding him farewell with genuine tears streaming down their faces.
For these Lamia Race, Haoran was a figure of awe—having awakened his Infinity Dragon Divine Physique, his aura alone can scare beast and subdue those with dragon bloods, like the Lamia!
This is honestly troublesome, Haoran thought, watching a group of younger Lamias sob into their veils. But what can be done? These type and those with beast-type martial souls are the same in their emotional volatility.
In front of him, the three women who had defined his stay stood in a line: Huo Yue, Zhu Ziyan, and Queen Medusa.
Zhu Ziyan looked much more stable than she had yesterday ago, her cat ears no longer flattened in fear but twitching with a newfound alertness.
Queen Medusa stood with her arms crossed, her golden eyes unreadable, though there was a slight tension in her tail that betrayed her feelings about his departure.
Haoran nodded at them, a final acknowledgement of their shared time, after all he didn't believe in long, drawn-out goodbyes.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his personal sword, a blade of exquisite craftsmanship that hummed with a cold, celestial Qi.
He threw it into the sky, where it began to glow with a brilliant azure light, expanding until it was broad enough to serve as a platform.
He jumped, his robes snapping in the wind as he landed perfectly on the blade's surface.
"Let us meet again if fate wills it!" Haoran declared, his voice carrying across the desert floor with the authority of a sovereign.
With a low hum of power, the sword accelerated, slicing through the air and vanishing into the clouds so quietly and quickly that it seemed as though he had simply been erased from the sky.
Huo Yue watched the empty space where he had been for a long time before she let out a long, heavy sigh, her shoulders dropping just a fraction before she squared them again.
"Oh well. He's gone. Now that the big boss has left the building, shall we continue our journey as well? We have an empire to see and take one of the ten slots at the Imperial Academy to claim."
"What for? The desert is peaceful. Just lie down and cultivate," Medusa said, her tone lazy but her eyes sharp. "Why wander through the dirt when you have a palace?"
"No way! I'm leaving!" Huo Yue shook her head, her eyes flashing with a spark of wanderlust. "I promised Haoran that I would show him the world, and that's precisely what I plan to do! Besides, I can't reach the Nascent Soul stage by sitting on a silk cushion. I need the tempering of the road."
Zhu Ziyan nodded quickly beside her. After all, after the events in the throne room, she was pretty much Huo Yue's follower and servant, bound by both gratitude and the need for a new purpose.
If Huo Yue walked into a volcano, Ziyan would likely be two steps behind her with a fan.
"Alright, as the big sister of this group! I have the final say!" Huo Yue announced, placing her hands on her hips and puffing out her chest.
Medusa let out a sharp, mocking hiss of laughter. "Big sister? Since when did a little brat who probably hasn't even grown a hair down there determine who is the queen and who are the servants? I have lived for centuries, little flame."
"Because I have a bigger 'virtue'!" Huo Yue countered, almost pushing her large breasts forward as if they were a physical manifestation of her authority.
In the world of cultivators, where the physical body was tempered by Qi, her development was indeed impressive—vibrant, full of life, and undeniably "virtuous" in the parlance of certain circles.
Medusa felt her cheek twitch as she e looked down at her own lithe, serpent-like elegance and then back at Huo Yue.
Out of the three of them, the Queen of the Lamias actually had the smallest "virtue" in that particular department, her beauty being more focused on her lethal, slender grace.
It was a petty observation, but in the absence of Haoran's stabilizing presence, the competitive nature of women, especially powerful ones, began to flare.
"Size is not a substitute for sovereignty," Medusa remarked coldly, though her tail lashed back and forth with irritation.
"Maybe not," Huo Yue grinned, sensing she had won this round of banter. "But it's a start! Now, pack your things, 'Little Sister' Medusa. We have a world to document, and I'm not leaving until I've found a river that reflects the stars!"
As the sun climbed higher over the Lamia Kingdom, the trio began to prepare for a trek that would take them across the breadth of the Eastern Region.
They were a strange company, a fallen genius, a haunted cat-girl, and a desert queen, but as they looked toward the horizon, they saw the shadow of the man who had brought them together remained a guiding star.
Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Azure Dragon Sect
Riding upon the edge of his celestial blade, Haoran cut through the atmosphere at a velocity that bordered on the speed of light.
To any observer on the ground, he would have appeared as nothing more than a fleeting silver needle sewing the clouds together before vanishing into the blue.
The wind did not dare buffet him, and instead it parted around his Qi-reinforced form in a perfect, silent slipstream.
Qinq'er had contacted him through a communication artifact—thought transmission couldn't work since the distance is too far—the previous night, her voice projecting a rare tone of apology into his mind.
She had explained that her return would be delayed due to the catastrophic fallout of the explosion incident and the subsequent stabilization of the Ning Clan's territory.
While the massive explosion and Qinq'er had erased the army, the political and military vacuum left in its wake was a messy affair that Ning Xueli, for all her newfound resolve, was still learning to navigate.
Although Qinq'er had been prepared to abandon Xueli to her own devices, viewing her primary duty as Haoran's shadow, Haoran had been the one to insist she remain.
He understood the value of a fully stabilized Ning Clan more than anyone; not only would he held the heart of Eastern Region's economy in his paln, but Xueli would be able to accompany with peace of mind.
Besides, Haoran harbored no illusions about his own safety; he didn't believe for a single second that he required a Profound Saint's protection within the borders of this Eastern Region.
To him, this land was a shallow pond, and he was a shark that had long since outgrown the water.
With two more days to spare before his final departure to the Central Region, Haoran decided to pivot his trajectory.
He had a sudden whim to check on the very first "System User" he had identified during his initial sweep of the region: Lin Feng.
The ring he had handed to the boy two years ago was far more than a simple gift of resources, but had also acted as a sophisticated beacon and tracker, allowing Haoran to monitor Lin Feng's location, Qi fluctuations, and growth in real-time.
Although it completely violates his privacy, Haoran couldn't really care less, to him, Lin Feng wasn't a peer or even a rival; he was a prize sheep being fattened in a pen.
And he, the shepherd was finally coming to see if the wool was ready for shearing.
*
*
*
The Sunset Forest.
It was a place of ancient, tangled beauty and lethal mystery.
Located on the rugged outskirts of the Azure Sun Kingdom—one of the Big 3—it was a dense emerald sea filled with venomous flora and predatory beasts that made it a "forbidden zone" for any cultivator below the Foundation Establishment realm.
The air here was shrouded and filled with the scent of damp earth and rotting vegetation, yet it hummed with an underlying, vibrant spiritual energy.
Deep within the heart of this primeval wilderness, where the trees grew so tall they seemed to support the sky, a cliffside rose abruptly from the forest floor.
A massive, thundering waterfall cascaded down its face, sending a perpetual mist into the air that caught the sunlight in a shimmering rainbow.
Perched precariously yet elegantly on the plateau above the falls was a single, secluded sect.
On the grand entrance plaque, the words Azure Dragon Sect were written in sweeping, arrogant strokes of gold.
And currently, on a large, shaded pavilion overlooking the falls, a young man named Lin Feng was currently lying down on a cushioned bamboo bench.
He is exactly the first system user that Haoran himself had met, the one he almost killed for actually using his system to peer through him.
At this moment, he looked less like a Sect Master and more like a vacationer at a tropical resort.
He was wearing a pair of dark-tinted sunglasses—an artifact he'd "bought" from his system's shop—and was currently sipping chilled coconut juice through a straw while sunbathing in the dappled light.
He looked completely relaxed, as if the wars and chaos of the Eastern Region were happening on a different planet.
And honestly, he couldn't care less about the war. The reason why he chose this place to establish his sect was because it was away from any civilization.
The Great Tao Desert was way too hot for him, not to mention it's the territory of the man-eating Lamias and also borders those hideous poison masters of thr Souther Region.
The Ten Thousand Beast Mountain range was way too dangerous, not to mention two years ago when he was exploring that place to search for good location, he encountered a war that completely wrecked everything apart!
He had seen them pick up literal mountains and threw them at each other!
Is that even something a human can do!?
So with all that said and done, he left and chose this place instead, and now although he looked like an ordinary, somewhat lazy youth, a closer inspection of his internal dantians revealed a startling truth.
His cultivation had already reached the 1st Stage of the Core Formation realm!
In the Eastern Region, reaching Core Formation at his age would usually be considered the feat of a once-in-a-century genius.
Truthfully, if Lin Feng wasn't so pathologically lazy, he probably would have reached the Peak of Core Formation or even the Golden Core realm by now, given the sheer amount of "Cheats" his system provided.
But after recruiting seven disciples and receiving a "High-Tier Sect Building Set" as a quest reward from his system, Lin Feng had completely started slacking off.
The buildings were self-repairing, the defensive arrays were automated, and the disciples were self-motivated.
So, there was really no need to work hard.
Besides, can you really blame him, though? In his past life on Earth, he was an ordinary, shut-in otaku whose greatest physical exertion was reaching for a remote or a keyboard.
Do people honestly expect a man like that to become a paragon of hard work just because he was reincarnated?
'Get real,' Lin Feng often thought to himself while napping. 'those 'grind-until-you-bleed' protagonists only exist in web novels. I've already got a system; why should I suffer?'
He had tried the "hardworking master" persona at first and he had spent a grand total of three days sitting cross-legged in a cave, trying to feel the "unity of heaven and man".
But unfortunately, by the fourth day, his legs were numb, his back ached, and he was bored to tears.
He quickly realized that the rhythmic flow of Qi was nowhere near as entertaining as his system's built-in gacha games or the light novels he could occasionally manifest through points.
Besides, his system featured a "Disciple Feedback" mechanic, which means every time his seven disciples grew stronger, a portion of their experience and cultivation progress was automatically funneled into him.
If they worked hard, he got stronger by proxy. It was the ultimate pyramid scheme, and he was at the top.
Is there even a much better life than this!?
"Master, you're slacking off again."
A cold, melodic female voice cut through the sound of the waterfall, the kind of voice that felt like a bucket of ice water being poured over a warm dream.
Lin Feng sighed, raised his sunglasses just enough to peek over the rims, and looked up.
Standing beside him was a stunning young woman with long, cascading silver hair that shimmered like moonlight, her eyes were a matching shade of piercing silver, and she wore a pure white robe that stood out against the green of the forest.
This was Wu Liena, Lin Feng's first female disciple.
She was currently at the 1st Stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, making her the strongest among his pupils.
And Lin Feng, despite his laziness, and wasn't stupid; even without the system hinting at him, he could tell Wu Liena had a history.
Her bearing was too noble, her gaze too sharp, and her knowledge of high-level techniques too vast for someone born in a desolate forest.
But despite all that, he never asked.
Frankly, he didn't want the "Main Character" drama that usually came with a disciple's tragic backstory.
One of his disciple had his engagement annulled and he was humiliated.
That's a Flame Emperor template right there! If he dared say "thirty years East, thriry years West. Don't bully the young and poor!", then he's pretty much set for life.
Unfortunately, perhaps his luck wasn't on the level of Flame Emperor, his grandpa in the ring turned out to be a demonic cultivator who wanted take over his own body!
Because of that, Lin Feng had to get involved and save him, but he almost died in the process.
Ever since then, he tried not to pry into his disciples past and mind his own business.
He just wanted a quiet life.
"Nana," Lin Feng said with a lazy smile, "I'm not slacking off. I'm contemplating the Dao. I am meditating on the flow of the universe so that I may not get lost on the road of life."
He said it with such unearned confidence and a straight face that a certain silver-haired ninja from his old world's manga would have been proud of the plagiarism.
Wu Liena looked at him with a gaze of pure, unadulterated disgust, and for a moment, she wondered if she had made a terrible mistake in joining this sect.
"...Whatever. Your contemplation looks a lot like napping to everyone else. I'm just here to inform you that the invitation arrived, and the Annual Sect Assembly for the Azure Sun region will be held within a week."
"Oh, is it that time already?" Lin Feng sat up, stretching his limbs until his joints popped like firecrackers as he adjusted his sunglasses and looked toward the horizon. "Alright. I suppose it's time to show those old fogies what a real talent looks like. Or, more accurately, I'll let you guys show them while I take the credit."
As he spoke, a translucent blue screen flickered into existence before his eyes—a screen only he could see.
[Quest Triggered: Win The Annual Sect Competition]
[Description: Your disciples must dominate the rankings and secure the top spot for the Azure Dragon Sect to establish regional prestige.]
[Rewards: Host Cultivation increase by 1 stage. Sect Library (Rank 4 Expansion). High-Grade Spirit Gathering Array. 100,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones]
Lin Feng's eyes lingered on the "1 stage increase" reward. 'Sweet. Another stage of Core Formation without having to lift a finger!'
"Nana," he said, standing up and dusting off his robes. "Tell the others to double their training for the next six days. If we win this, I'll... uh... I'll give you all an extra day off."
Wu Liena stared at him, her expression deadpan. "We already have six days off a week, Master."
"Then I'll make it seven!" Lin Feng declared heroically.
This reward... He was determined to get it!
Chapter 69: Chapter 69: An Idiot
Haoran stopped in the void above the Azure Dragon Sect, his golden trimmed robes fluttering as he hovered with the effortless grace of a celestial being.
His eyes, cold and analytical, swept over the architecture and the inhabitants below, observing everything with the detached precision of a hunter surveying a new territory.
Without even needing to expand his spiritual sense fully, he accounted for everyone.
Excluding Lin Feng, there were a total of seven people within the sect grounds, likely the "disciples" the system had prompted the boy to recruit.
Each of them possessed cultivation ranging from the 7th Stage of the Qi Gathering realm to the 1st Stage of the Foundation Establishment realm.
To the common people of the Eastern Region, these would be considered rising stars, but to Haoran, they were merely flickering candles in a hurricane.
Without further hesitation, he descended.
He did not crash down like a meteor, nor did he sneak in like a thief, he landed with a soft, imperceptible thud directly in front of the main gates.
Despite his overwhelming power, he entered through the front door; after all, he had manners, and a true noble of the Central Region always maintained the etiquette of a guest until the host proved unworthy of the courtesy.
As he entered the central courtyard, the air seemed to grow still, as if the world itself was holding its breath in his presence.
He immediately saw six of the disciples—two women and four men—practicing their combat forms.
They were sparring with a rhythmic intensity, their wooden weapons clashing with the dull thuds of focused effort.
The moment Haoran stepped into their line of sight, the sparring stopped abruptly, and the air of the courtyard changed, and the students stared at him in profound confusion.
He was too refined, too elegant, and his aura was too vast to be a simple traveler.
"Brother, this is the Azure Dragon Sect," spoke one of the students, stepping forward to intercept him.
He was a bald man with bronze skin, his muscles so incredibly well-defined they looked like they had been carved from mountain rock.
He carried a heavy, earthen pressure about him. "Are you here to join? I am the eldest disciple, Xiao Ning."
Xiao... Haoran's mind immediately flicked through his internal records.
Among the anomalies he had studied from the memories of his cousin, the Six Great Protagonist Families always stood out: Xiao, Lin, Yun, Chu, Tang, Ye.
Seeing a muscular youth with the surname Xiao in a remote forest sect was almost a cliché of fate.
Haoran was instantly confident that this man was an anomaly as well, likely possessing some "Ancient God Body" or a "Devouring System" of his own.
"I'm an old friend of Lin Feng," Haoran said, his voice flat and calm.
At those words, the atmosphere shifted instantly, and instead of a warm welcome, everyone in the courtyard turned incredibly cautious, their bodies tensing into combat stances.
Haoran raised an eyebrow, a flicker of genuine confusion crossing his face.
Unknown to him, Lin Feng had spent the last two years brainwashing his disciples with a single, paranoid rule: Never believe anyone who introduces themselves as my 'old friend' or 'acquaintance'.
Although it wasn't his intention, but Lin Feng had actually painted a picture of himself as a man being hunted by shadowy, powerful organizations from his past.
His disciples, filled with youthful righteousness and loyalty, had agreed to keep his secrets, hoping to protect their "beleaguered" master.
What they didn't know was that Lin Feng was indeed being hunted—but it wasn't by ancient sects or vengeful gods, it was because of a staggering amount of debt.
When he had transmigrated as the Sect Master of the Azure Dragon Sect, he hadn't just inherited the land and the title; he had also inherited the massive, spiraling financial liabilities the previous master had left behind.
Lin Feng had absolutely no intention of paying them back; after all, in his mind, those debts belonged to a dead man, and he was just the new tenant.
If they're so capable, why don't they go to the underworld and ask the original Lin Feng to pay them back.
"Um, brother, we don't have anyone named Lin Feng around here. You must have the wrong mountain," Xiao Ning said, his voice dropping an octave as he prepared to drive this "debt collector" away.
Haoran stared at him for a second, then sighed. He immediately decided it wasn't worth the effort to argue with children or explain the complexities of his arrival.
He simply began to walk past them, heading straight toward the main building where he felt the unmistakable resonance of the ring he had given Lin Feng two years ago.
"Wait!" Xiao Ning shouted, his patience snapping as he reached out with a hand like a vice, wanting to grab Haoran's shoulder to physically stop him from advancing.
At that exact moment, the world seemed to scream.
The air grew heavy, no, not just heavy, but solid as a pressure so great it as if the entire weight of the heavens was falling pressed down not only on Xiao Ning, but on everyone in the courtyard.
The ground beneath their feet cracked, and they could even hear the faint, terrifying sound of dragons roaring in the back of their minds as they were slammed into the dirt.
Every single disciple dropped to the ground, lying flat on their faces, unable to even twitch a finger or draw a breath.
It was the absolute suppression of a higher lifeform.
Haoran didn't even turn his head as he looked down at Xiao Ning out of the corner of his eye, his gaze filled with a cold, aristocratic disdain. "Do not try and touch me, worm."
Protagonist family or no, Haoran absolutely hated being touched without his explicit permission.
To him, these anomalies—despite their potential—were currently nothing more than useless insects, and in his eyes, they were like cockroaches skittering across a kitchen floor; being touched by one was not a threat, it was simply disgusting.
He stared at them for a long moment, letting the weight of his Golden Core realm cultivation grind their pride into the dust.
Though these people might be useful tools in the distant future, right now, they were less than nothing.
At that moment, a frantic shuffling sound came from the main hall.
"Ah! Young Master! Young Master! Please, please, stop! Forgive them!"
Lin Feng appeared, running out of the manor and nearly tripping over his own feet, wearing nothing but a flip-flops, a Hawaiian shirt and shorts.
He stood in front of Haoran and rubbed his palms together frantically, bowing low.
His actions didn't look like a Sect Master at all, and instead he looked like a sleazy businessman who had just been caught in a tax audit."They have eyes but couldn't see Mount Tai! They don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! Please be magnanimous, Young Master! Spare them, spare them!"
Haoran retracted his pressure in an instant, and the crushing weight vanished as quickly as it had arrived, leaving the students gasping for air and trembling on the ground.
Lin Feng breathed a massive sigh of relief, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest as he whirled around and began shouting at his terrified disciples. "You people! What are you doing lying around!? Go prepare snacks! Prepare the highest-grade tea! We have a distinguished guest! After that, go to the disciplinary hall and punish yourselves in the tickle machine for two hours!"
"What!?" The disciples looked up, their faces pale. "Master, no! Anything but the tickle machine!"
"Not that! Please, Master, we'll double our cultivation time instead!"
"Alright then," Lin Feng snapped, "increase the punishment time by another hour for talking back! Be glad I didn't send you to the 'Endless Salt' room!"
That effectively shut up the students before they scrambled to their feet, bowing dejectedly, and fled toward the kitchens as if the god of death himself was chasing them.
Lin Feng watched them go with a nod of satisfaction, then turned back to Haoran, his expression shifting instantly back into one of fawning servitude.
"Young Master," Lin Feng said, his voice honeyed with desperation, "it has been so long! To what do I owe the honor of this visit? Is there something this humble one can do for you?"
Inside Lin Feng's mind, a familiar blue screen was flashing frantically with a bright red border.
[Emergency Quest: Satisfy The Requests of The Mysterious Heir]
[Description: A figure of absolute power has graced your doorstep. Do not offend him. Do not annoy him]
[Reward: Unknown (High Value)]
[System Note: Host, look at him! Look at that aura! If you have no backing in this cruel world, then you must hug the thighs of those with backings! What kind of cultivator doesn't have a golden thigh to cling to nowadays!? If you play your cards right and get him as your patron, you'll ascend to heaven in one step! Don't be a fool, be a sycophant!]
Lin Feng gulped, his eyes darting between Haoran's cold face and the system's insistent prompt.
He didn't need the system to tell him that, after all the man standing before him was a walking disaster, and Lin Feng was more than willing to be the world's greatest 'yes-man' if it meant keeping his head on his shoulders.
Haoran looked at the bowing, sweating young man and felt a slight sense of amusement.
This "sheep" was certainly more entertaining than the stoic warriors of the Central Region.
"I am leaving for the Central Region in a few days," Haoran said, his voice ringing clearly in the quiet courtyard. "I came to see if you were worth the ring I gave you. But it seems you've been busy playing 'Master' in this little shack."
"A shack? Oh, no, Young Master, this is... a humble start-up!" Lin Feng laughed nervously. "But please, come inside. Let us talk over tea. I have much to say... and perhaps, I could use a little guidance from someone of your caliber?"
Haoran didn't answer immediately as he began to walk toward the inner sanctum, his steps silent.
He could see that the "Azure Dragon Sect" was built on high-level system artifacts, and the foundation was solid, even if the Master was a slacker.
As expected, system users are truly the most troublesome people to deal with.
But it's alright, this one seems to be an idiot.