Now, he was an ambitious eighteen-year-old, surrounded by breathtaking confidantes, each a heavenly talent.
With Saint Spirit Academy’s enrollment only three months away, the entire continent buzzed. Young geniuses were emerging from seclusion, eager to chase fame and glorify their clans.
Success at the academy promised continent-wide renown — even across Yue Dragon Star. For passionate youths, it was a once-in-a-millennium chance.
Cultivators lived long lives; those under a hundred were still considered young. The academy’s decennial recruitment allowed retries — much like university exams in Lan An’s past life.
Among his companions, all but Ji Bing Ying met the age limit.
Mu Zi Yin and Liu Shi Qin were under fifty, while Lan An and the others were even younger. Ji Bing Ying cultivated within the Spirit Realm Pearl, ensuring they could still stay together.
Unlike the fervent atmosphere outside, Lan An and his women enjoyed a rare leisure inside the Liu Clan’s elegant courtyard.
Their purpose: to stabilize their heart-states after rapid cultivation. Haste could lead to shaky foundations.
Bai Su Mei had reached Mid Nascent Soul, catching up to Li Zhu Luan — her former Star Transformation focus now completely overcome.
Lan An sat calmly as Mu Zi Yin, Liu Shi Qin, Li Zhu Luan, and Bai Su Mei tenderly served him tea.
Nearby, a wild beauty lounged lazily on a rock, sunbathing like a cat.
Clad in tight leather, her silver-purple hair and Western allure marked her as Little Lion’s human form — a Fifth-Order beast who rarely transformed unless urged.
Beside her, Liu Meng Ying cultivated amid Top-Grade Spirit Stones, practicing the Water Sea True Scripture — a High Heaven-Grade technique gifted by Lan An’s Lucky Shop in exchange for her Water-Repelling Pearl.
The scripture originated from the Hai Hong Sect, just like Lan An’s Great Hong Kick. It perfectly suited her pure Water Spiritual Root, propelling her to Late Qi Refining in only ten days — a prodigy under ten years old.
“Husband, so unfair! Even Meng Ying gets a great scripture!” Li Zhu Luan pouted, leaning against him.
She and Mu Zi Yin still used the Supreme Earth-Grade Heavenly Wood Sect scriptures — adequate for now, but limiting later.
High-level scriptures defined one’s strength in higher realms.
Mu Zi Yin’s Butterfly Sword Art relied on her Purple Wood Sword to slay Late Spirit Transformation foes — but without it, she’d struggle. Both feared falling behind Lan An.
“Relax,” Lan An said, stroking Li Zhu Luan’s hair. “I’ve already contacted Master. She’ll bring suitable scriptures.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Despite refreshing the Lucky Shop countless times, no fitting Beyond Spirit-Grade scripture had ever appeared.
“Two years flew by... I wonder how they’re doing,” he murmured, picturing Yan Ruo Xue, Hong Lian, Die Qing, Qin Meng Ying, and the aloof Ji Ya.
Suddenly, dread gripped him.
His chest tightened. Breathing grew ragged. He clutched at his heart and staggered to his feet.
“Husband? Little Nam?”
The women rushed to him, alarmed.
Little Lion roared skyward.
Bai Su Mei — bound by contract — went pale. She could sense it.
Then, the System’s mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
Epic Quest: Live and Die Together triggered.
Reward: One Weapon Summon, One Scripture Summon, One Bloodline Summon.
Failure: Death.
Objective: Ji Ya is in critical danger. Host must rescue her immediately!
Lan An’s pupils shrank.
The dread… it came from their Live and Die Together contract.
“Ji Ya’s in trouble!” he rasped.
Everyone froze.
“How!? She’s Refining Void!” Li Zhu Luan cried, tears welling.
“I can feel her danger!” Bai Su Mei trembled.
“Where is she? How do we save her!?” Mu Zi Yin’s hands bled from clenching too hard.
Liu Shi Qin forced herself calm. “The Multi-Treasure Pavilion sells a Trace Teleportation Array. It can track someone’s aura — we can find Ji Ya!”
“To the Pavilion!” Lan An ordered.
Little Lion transformed — her body expanding into a massive, feathered lion-beast.
They mounted her, lightning streaking as they soared toward the Pavilion, awing all of Ping An City.
“Honored guests, how may we assist?” Two attendants bowed deeply, their eyes flicking between the stunning women.
“We need a Trace Teleportation Array!” Liu Shi Qin declared.
“We’ll fetch the steward!” the attendants stammered, rushing away.
They followed without pause, urgency burning in their steps.
A sultry voice greeted them — Lian, a mature stewardess, raising a brow in surprise.
The array, unearthed from an ancient cave, had languished unsold for over a decade — its price: seventy thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones.
“Lian! It’s life and death — hurry!” Liu Shi Qin pleaded, an old acquaintance.
“Follow me!”
Lian led them to a glass case holding a rolled leather mat labeled:
Trace Teleportation Array
Tracks a person’s aura via an item, teleporting one user instantly.
Price: 70,000 Top-Grade Spirit Stones.
Single use.
“It’s genuine!” Jin’er confirmed.
“Buy it!” Lan An ordered.
Pooling their wealth — the spoils of Qing Yun Sect — they purchased it.
“Lay it flat!” Lian instructed.
Lan An unrolled the mat.
A hexagonal formation gleamed faintly with mystical glyphs.
“Place something with the target’s aura in the center!”
“Ji Ya’s item?” Lan An frowned.
“I’ve got it!” Bai Su Mei produced the Twin Heart Sword Art, infused with Ji Ya’s aura.
“I’ll find her. Prepare for Saint Spirit Academy — I’ll return in time!” Lan An said firmly.
“No! I’m going too!” Li Zhu Luan and Bai Su Mei protested, but Mu Zi Yin and Liu Shi Qin held them back.
“Her foe’s too strong. We’d only hinder him,” Mu Zi Yin reasoned.
“Our palace tokens will let us follow him anytime.”
They hesitated — then nodded.
Liu Shi Qin placed a tiny Little Lion on Lan An’s shoulder. “Its speed may help.”
Lan An placed the Twin Heart Sword Art at the array’s center and infused it with Spirit Energy.
Glyphs blazed to life, a spatial vortex forming as the mat dissolved.
“Enter now!” Lian shouted.
Lan An stepped in with Little Lion.
He looked back once at the women, smiling faintly.
“Wait for me!”
His voice echoed as he vanished.
“Who’d wait for you...” Lian muttered, cheeks flushed.
Even she was stunned — every woman there had reached Nascent Soul or beyond. Liu Shi Qin neared Spirit Transformation; Mu Zi Yin had already surpassed it.
What kind of man commands such unity?
The vortex closed.
The mat was gone — leaving only the Twin Heart Sword Art.
Bai Su Mei checked it, confirming Ji Ya’s aura was gone, consumed by the array.
“It worked. Let’s await his triumph.”