Before them stood a woman of about twenty, elegant and refined, yet radiating a rare resilience. The women widened their eyes, instinctively glaring at the only man present.

  Another of his romantic escapades? A woman seeking him out now?

  "Nangong Clan Saintess? What's your business?" Ruo Xue and Yan Hong Lian recognized her, stepping forward to ask.

  Lan An's heart stirred. He hadn't known who approached, but realizing it was Nangong Wenyun, he saw Nangong Yu's efforts bore fruit.

  Suppressing her nerves, Nangong Wenyun clasped her hands gracefully, her voice soft, "Wenyun greets Young Master and esteemed ladies!"

  "No need for formality. Nangong Yu sent you to me, correct?" Lan An asked warmly.

  Nangong Wenyun nodded, cutting to the chase, "Sister Yu indeed urged me to seek Young Master's aid. I'd be eternally grateful if you agree."

  The women exchanged puzzled glances, unfamiliar with Nangong Yu, except Li Zhu Luan, who smiled knowingly.

  "I've heard your plight. Join Harem Faction, and your future is secured!" Lan An said directly, adding his condition.

  "Harem Faction?" Nangong Wenyun's eyes widened. She knew only that Nangong Yu urged her to join Lan An's force, not its name. Unaware of the term's deeper meaning, she nodded decisively, "Wenyun agrees. From today, I'm a member of Harem Faction!"

  To escape Nangong Lie, she'd embrace any request, unaware she'd leapt from a lamb's jaws into a tiger's maw.

  The women exchanged looks, marveling at their husband's charm—securing a stunning beauty with mere words. Hua Yu Fei rubbed her brow, feeling the world spiraling. Nangong Wenyun's beauty and talent rivaled hers, yet she'd pledged herself so swiftly—utterly baffling.

  Lan An nodded, pleased, but held back the truth: joining Harem Faction meant becoming his woman. He feared she'd flee. Time was long; he'd nurture feelings and reveal it later. Besides, he needed to understand her better.

  "Welcome, Sister Wenyun. But a battle with prodigies looms. You may leave to stay safe," Mu Bai Yin said gently, testing her character.

  Nangong Wenyun's exquisite face turned serious, "I rushed here for this. Lan Yu has rallied many prodigies to crush you. As a Harem Faction member, I'll contribute my strength!"

  Lan An and the women nodded approvingly. Her words won their favor. From this day, Harem Faction gained a new member, completing the Five Elements with her Metal attribute.

  The Secret Realm's final days neared.

  From afar, ten radiant beams blazed across the sky, unstoppable, racing toward Lan An's camp. Countless onlookers leapt up, eyes gleaming. The inevitable clash had arrived.

  Lan An stretched, rising into the air.

  Behind him, Mu Bai Yin, Liu Shi Qin, Bai Su Mei, Li Zhu Luan, Ruo Xue, Yan Hong Lian, Yan Die Qing, Su Mei, Hua Yu Fei, Bing Ying Er, Nangong Wenyun—eleven peerless beauties, hair flowing, battle intent blazing, gazed into the distance.

  There, figures approached.

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  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The sky darkened, thunderous power cloaking the heavens.

  Lan Yu, face haughty, clad in brocade, eyes crackling with lightning, sneered as he emerged. Blood Star Sect's Three Saint Sons, Bing Yang, Bing Feng, Fan Shan, Mu Song, Yu Han, Lan Chang—nine prodigies from renowned powers, united with Lan Yu. They shared one foe, one goal: defeat Lan An, expel him from the Academy.

  Seeing Lan Yu's gleaming eyes, then their husband's empty socket, the women's gazes burned with murderous fury. Liu Shi Qin trembled with rage, a black storm brewing in her proud eyes.

  "Orphaned mutt! You've hidden well these two years!" Lan Yu stared at Lan An, sneering coldly.

  "Courting death!" Yan Hong Lian roared, purple Variant Fire erupting.

  Lan An raised a hand, calming them, smiling faintly, "Orphaned mutt? Hiding? Beside me are peerless beauties—my wives, lovers, friends, family. Why would I hide? Why lack a home? Where they are, that's my home. Lan An's home. You'll never understand."

  The women's hearts melted, their eyes shimmering. Following such a man was worth it.

  Lan An smirked, feeling no great anger toward Lan Yu. Glancing at Lan Yu's allies, he asked lightly, "And you? Gathering this rabble to nip at me?"

  Lan Yu's face darkened. He turned, inciting his allies, "He calls you rabble. Can you stomach it?"

  The nine prodigies flushed with rage. Bing Yang sneered, "Rabble? Let battle decide!"

  "Fight! Show him our might!" the others echoed.

  Lan An dug his ear, spat, and pointed at each disdainfully, "All defeated dogs. Who gave you the guts to face me again?"

  Their faces fell, swallowing bitter truth they couldn't refute.

  "Hmph! We held back, letting you get cocky. You're dead!" Yu Han snapped, his beast sack quaking as two beasts emerged.

  Roar! Two Gold Eagles, Metal beasts, fierce in air.

  "Gold Eagles, Metal beasts, fierce in air. Leave them to me!" Nangong Wenyun said, lips parting.

  "No, let Fire Phoenix roast them!" Lan An shook his head. Purple flames burst forth, a domineering Fire Phoenix phantom sweeping flames toward them.

  The Gold Eagles shrieked fiercely, soaring to the clouds. Fire Phoenix pursued, clashing echoes resounding.

  "Fire Phoenix handled," Blood Star Sect's Saint Sons nodded.

  Blood Star Sect's First and Second Saint Sons exchanged glances, tossing out two coffins. Two Blood Fiend Corpses leapt forth.

  Against the corpses, Lan An summoned Earth Bear. Its massive arms swung, fearlessly pounding the foes. Not stopping, Lan An called Wood Turtle, a mountain-like shield.

  Yan Die Qing, Li Zhu Luan, Su Mei, and Hua Yu Fei appeared behind the turtle's shell.

  "Wood Blessing!" Yan Die Qing's seals sent wood qi enveloping Wood Turtle, boosting its defense. Vines surged, wrapping Earth Bear, hardening it further. Earth Bear roared gleefully, battling two corpses, forcing them back.

  "Bing Ying Er, you side with them?" Bing Yang asked the delicate girl gravely.

  "Of course I stand with Young Master. What's strange?" Bing Ying Er blinked.

  Under stunned gazes, a massive ice-forged axe formed. The petite girl hoisted it onto her slender shoulders: Polar Ice Axe (Low Earth-Grade Weapon).

  "Hmph, I fancy pretty girls. Leave her to me!" Xiang Qian purred.

  "Disgusting! Eat Ling Er's axe!" Bing Ying Er swung Polar Ice Axe, smashing toward Xiang Qian.

  "Heh, Blood Claws!" Xiang Qian lunged.

  "Ten Thousand Vines Bind!" Behind Wood Turtle, Li Zhu Luan's vines snaked toward Xiang Qian's legs.

  "Die, wench!" Blood Star Sect's First Saint Son roared, charging Wood Turtle to strike Li Zhu Luan.

  "Your opponent's me! Butterfly Strike!" Mu Bai Yin said calmly, Purple Wood Sword (Heaven-Grade Artifact) in hand.

  Her figure danced, closing on the First Saint Son. He roared, summoning his Blood Pearl (Heaven-Grade), barely blocking Mu Bai Yin's razor-sharp assault.

  Seeing Xiang Qian nearly bound, the Second Saint Son rushed to intervene. Ruo Xue appeared before him, wordlessly hurling Water-Earth Pearl (Heaven-Grade Treasure).

  The Second Saint Son roared, his bones shifting into Bone Body Armor. "Bone Cultivator?" Ruo Xue muttered, pressing Water-Earth Pearl down, burying him.

  A feral roar echoed as the Second Saint Son tunneled up, yanking his spine as a blade. "Wind Charm Blessing!" Yan Die Qing's seals boosted Ruo Xue's speed.

  Bing Ying Er hammered Xiang Qian with Polar Ice Axe. Xiang Qian, on the defensive, swallowed ten corpses to heal. He charged Bing Ying Er, Blood Claws clashing with the axe.

  "Witch, dare face this monk?" Fan Shan barked, eyeing Bai Su Mei's intimacy with Lan An.

  "Master, I'd cut his tongue!" Bai Su Mei whispered.

  "Full force. I loathe this bald fool," Lan An said coolly.

  "Yes!" Bai Su Mei smoothed her glossy hair, stepping forward.

  Two swords appeared: one white, one gold, undulating with shimmering scales—Gold-Silver Twin Serpent Swords (High Heaven-Grade).

  Their debut. Lethal intent chilling.