Dear Readers,
Thank you for sharing this journey and witnessing the bond that blossoms between Lan An and the Harem.
If their devotion and unity have touched your heart, consider offering a few Power Stones to help the tale grow stronger.
Every bit of your support is like a spark of spiritual energy, guiding this humble story along its path of ascension.
Share it with your fellow cultivators, and together, let's rise through the ranks with grace and strength.
-------------------------------------------------
Moments after Lan An and the two women vanished, the sound of tearing wind echoed. A host of experts soared in, gazing solemnly at the ravaged battlefield on the vast sea.
"A Void Refinement clash, and not just between two…" An old man with golden hair and blue eyes, at Peak Divine Transformation, said gravely.
"Indeed. We didn't dare approach earlier, avoiding unforeseen calamity," another nodded.
"Look at that corpse!" An elderly woman smirked, pointing at the body drifting on the sea.
"Such gruesome wounds. What kind of attack could reduce a Mid Void Refiner to this?" The crowd, sensing the lingering aura, paled in shock.
A middle-aged man, knowledgeable about attire, picked up a tattered black cloth from the corpse, murmuring, "Bat Sovereign Silk, a material that conceals aura and boasts high defense, yet it's shredded…"
"There's the scent of a Berserk Pill. He must have consumed one before dying," a Wood-element alchemist sniffed, pondering.
"Terrifying. This man was a formidable Void Refiner, yet he died so miserably…" The crowd sighed in awe.
"Can we identify him?" A portly man in ornate robes Bao Li asked.
"Not yet, but we'll have answers soon," the Seventh Elder replied softly.
Bao Li nodded, turning to leave.
For some reason, he sensed this incident tied to Fairy Water Spirit and that youth. Their arrival at Emei Archipelago coincided too closely with the event—an uncanny coincidence.
If Fairy Water Spirit could fight above her level, even slaying such a powerful foe, she had the potential to become a valued guest of Duo Bao Pavilion.
Within the Spirit Realm Pearl…
"This… this is…?"
As expected, Shui Niang Qing, upon entering, was dazzled by the grandeur, staring in shock, her alluring purple lips agape, almost comical.
"The Harem's headquarters… your second home!" Lan An said with a leisurely smile.
"Harem… so you carry your Harem with you…" Shui Niang Qing's eyes widened. She'd never heard of a faction structured this way.
"Exactly. The Harem is always with me, meaning you all are too!" Lan An shrugged, pointing to the Palace Tree. "That's where you'll cultivate. Qing Er, pick a palace!"
Chirp, chirp
Before Shui Niang Qing could respond, a strange sound drew their attention.
A captivating fragrance wafted into their noses, prompting everyone to inhale deeply, feeling refreshed.
Five deep green pills hovered in the air, emerging from Xiao Qing Xuan's bronze cauldron.
"Five pills in one batch, with high purity. Young Master, don't let her slip away!" Jin Ni praised, a rare compliment.
Xiao Qing Xuan smiled contentedly, wiping sweat from her brow, her flushed face radiant. She carefully stored the pills in a jade bottle.
Lan An, holding both women, flew over.
"Tian Er, my treasure, what pills did you refine?" he asked unabashedly.
The two women looked at Xiao Qing Xuan curiously, unfamiliar with her.
"This is Xiao Qing Xuan, a Fifth-grade Alchemist and a future member of our Harem!" Lan An introduced shamelessly.
Xiao Qing Xuan, sensing their approach, had released her spiritual sense. His audacity made her stomp in anger, snorting, "Who's joining your Harem? Barely arrived in Lan Zhou, and you've already got another beauty by your side… you lecherous ghost!"
She meant Shui Niang Qing, of course.
Shui Niang Qing blushed, pinching Lan An's waist. The entire Lan Hong Sect was pushing their union, viewing him as her betrothed. Even her mother, Shui Shuang Hua, wished to marry her off immediately. She had no escape from this man.
Ji Ya removed her Faceless Mask, revealing her true face. Shui Niang Qing gaped for the nth time.
"It's you? Ya Bing?"
"Indeed, we're officially family now, Water Spirit!" Ji Ya smiled regally, extending a delicate hand.
Shui Niang Qing grasped it, her face complex.
"How did you grow so strong so fast?"
Back at Saint Spirit Academy, they'd sparred occasionally, with Shui Niang Qing winning through her Strange Water's terrifying recovery.
Decades later, Ji Ya surpassed her in cultivation and combat, despite Shui Niang Qing's Strange Water.
Ji Ya smiled blissfully, looping her arm through Lan An's affectionately. "All thanks to him. Water Spirit, you're fortunate to catch his eye."
"Pfft!" Xiao Qing Xuan scoffed, thinking they were flattering each other.
But Shui Niang Qing thought differently. Recalling Lan An casually gifting Shui Mo Er a Spirit-grade technique, and the Spirit Realm Pearl's spiritual energy dozens of times denser than outside, she knew Ji Ya spoke truth.
Looking at Lan An, she bit her full lips, whispering, "Let's say that's true."
Lan An, puffed up by their praise, knew Ji Ya spoke to ease his guilt over their injuries. Grateful, he held both women tighter.
Xiao Qing Xuan found the scene irksome. Her sly eyes gleamed, noting their pale faces. "Are the two sisters injured?"
"Indeed, we'll need brief seclusion to recover," Ji Ya nodded calmly.
"No need. I have another way to heal them quickly!" Lan An transmitted mysteriously.
Ji Ya's face flushed. Having been with the others long, she knew his intentions. Her heart raced.
Shui Niang Qing, innocent as a fawn, was clueless, wondering why the aloof Fairy Ya Bing blushed so often.
Lan An grinned, about to carry them to a palace.
"No need for dual cultivation. I've refined some fine pills perfect for healing the sisters!" Xiao Qing Xuan's sparkling eyes twinkled mischievously at Lan An.
He gnashed his teeth. Was she sabotaging his plans?
At "dual cultivation," Ji Ya and Shui Niang Qing, embarrassed, pushed him away, their eyes shining at Xiao Qing Xuan. "Really?"
"Indeed!" Xiao Qing Xuan smiled. "Here's a High Earth-grade Water Chill Pill, ideal for Water and Ice spiritual energy cultivators."
She handed Ji Ya three shimmering pills rich with Water and Ice attributes.
"Another time, my love. With Water Spirit here, it's inconvenient," Ji Ya transmitted to Lan An, taking the pills and flying to Ya Ji Palace, slamming the door to seclude.
"And for you, sister, Air-Water Pills and Thunder-Recovery Pills, both Earth-grade, great for healing," Xiao Qing Xuan produced four pills, two of each, for Shui Niang Qing.
"Hmph, almost fell for your tricks. My first time won't be with another woman!" Shui Niang Qing shot Lan An a sidelong glance, snatching the pills.
Lan An felt like crying, glaring at Xiao Qing Xuan's teasing gaze.
Helpless, he kissed Shui Niang Qing soundly, choosing a palace for her.
"This one, near Ji Ya's," Shui Niang Qing, uncomplicated, picked a breezy, cool palace.
Lan An nodded, handing her a token. "Let's call it Water Spirit Palace. This teleportation token lets you return instantly."
"Marvelous!" Shui Niang Qing's eyes sparkled. Seeing no one around, she tiptoed, kissing his cheek like a dragonfly skimming water, then bolted into her palace.
Lan An smiled, rubbing his cheek, then turned to Xiao Qing Xuan, growling, "You ruined my moment on purpose?"
"What? I was just helping the sisters recover faster!" Xiao Qing Xuan stuck out her pink tongue, feigning innocence, her stunning face radiant.
Lan An laughed wryly, not truly angry, secretly delighted.
Since when had the reserved Xiao Qing Xuan become so playful? Had he, unwittingly, nudged her toward a brighter self?
"Tian Er… you've changed…"
Stepping close, he gently stroked her sweat-damp hair from refining, smiling softly.
Xiao Qing Xuan flustered, turning away, silently pleading for her master's help.
But her master stayed silent, recognizing her disciple's positive shift, unwilling to interfere.
"Sigh, Tian Er's grown, and love is nature's law… I shouldn't meddle," her master's soul sighed, comforted. She'd observed Lan An long. Though a bit of a flirt and mysterious, he was devoted to his women, easing her worries for her disciple.
A Transcension Realm expert's judgment was sharp, her eye for character impeccable.
"You should smile more… it's beautiful," Lan An murmured, somehow holding her soft, herb-scented hand.
"What… what are you doing?" Xiao Qing Xuan tried to pull away, but he held firm, her face red as a ripe peach.
"How's your alchemy progressing? When will you reach Sixth-grade?" Lan An shifted to a serious topic, softening his approach.
Distracted, Xiao Qing Xuan forgot to free her hand, snorting, "Alchemy is arduous. I'm still far from Sixth-grade. My best now is High Earth-grade pills."
"I'm proud of you!" Lan An said encouragingly, showing no disappointment.
"Hmph… who needs your… your care!" Xiao Qing Xuan stammered.
In matters of love, she was a blank slate, toyed with by this man.
"Which palace do you fancy, Tian Er?"
He looked up at the Palace Tree, where most second-tier palaces were claimed, smiling.
Xiao Qing Xuan floundered, unsure how to respond, blurting, "I haven't agreed to join your Harem!"
"You'll join, or you're not leaving the Spirit Realm Pearl," Lan An teased shamelessly.
"How can you be so unreasonable?" Xiao Qing Xuan gasped, her chest heaving.
"You promised to hunt Zhang Yu with me but left me alone all this time. This is compensation," he pressed, unabashed.
"That…" Xiao Qing Xuan was speechless. Wasn't he the one tempting her with spiritual herbs?
"Besides, joining the Harem doesn't mean becoming my woman… don't misunderstand," Lan An said righteously, adding mentally, "Not my woman, but my wife!"
Xiao Qing Xuan's face flickered with complexity. Around this man, her calm mind faltered.
Her master had vanished, offering no guidance.
They stood in silence.
Seeing her hesitation, Lan An played his final card, speaking clearly, "I don't know your past, but your master's situation is dire. Tian Er, you must reach Seventh-grade Alchemist soon to forge a body. I'm the one who can shorten that path."
"What…" Xiao Qing Xuan and her master's soul jolted, staring warily at Lan An.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand," Xiao Qing Xuan said, feigning calm.
"Remember the two Beauty-Preserving Pills in Bai Yu City? I gave them to you and your master. I have means to see her hidden soul. No need for pretense," Lan An said seriously.
"What do you want?" Xiao Qing Xuan's face turned cold, her master's enemies too powerful to risk any leak.
"What do I want? I should ask you, Tian Er. Your master's soul is a frail wisp. Delaying worsens her state, risking dissipation. With your current progress, reaching Seventh-grade in ten years would be a miracle. Can your master last that long?"
His words struck Xiao Qing Xuan like lightning, each syllable sparking panic. She frantically asked her master, "Is he right? Can't you endure ten years?"
Silence, then a faint sigh. "As long as I see you thrive, I'll depart content."
"No… how can it be? Ten years is too short…" Xiao Qing Xuan's tears fell.
She gritted her teeth, nodding firmly at Lan An. "I'll join the Harem if you help me reach Seventh-grade in ten years."
"Even without the Harem, I'd swear to help you. I genuinely care for you, not forcing you," Lan An said softly, holding her hand.
Meeting his sincere gaze, Xiao Qing Xuan sobbed. The burden she'd carried for years, nearly suffocating, felt lighter.
Others took millennia to reach Fifth-grade Alchemist; she did at twenty, a testament to her grueling effort and pressure.
Now, someone offered to share her load, like warm coal in a snowstorm.
"I choose to join the Harem. Even if you chase me, I won't leave," she declared, glaring through tears.
"Good… you won't disappoint me," Lan An said tenderly, wiping her tears.
In her dazed gaze, he pulled her youthful form into his arms, lifted her smooth chin, and boldly kissed her lush, petal-like lips.
"Mmm…" Xiao Qing Xuan froze, caught off guard.
After a moment, tasting the warm, rich flavor of his lips, she wrapped her slender arms around his strong waist.
Her lashes fluttered shut, savoring her first kiss.
Time stood still.