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Spirit Blossom Orb, Wounds and Bonds
Though Lan An fled into the Spirit Blossom Orb, the Void Refinement strike's aura still ravaged him, churning his blood until he vomited.
"Tiểu Nam, are you okay?" Mu Zi Yin and Li Zhu Luan rushed to support him, faces etched with worry. This was the first time they saw their domineering man so battered.
Inhaling their sweet fragrances, Lan An suppressed his pain, teasing Mu Zi Yin with a grin: "My wife, worried for me?"
"Worry, my foot!" Mu Zi Yin snapped, her earlier panic making her overlook her actions. Now, teased in front of her disciple, she flushed with anger and embarrassment, yanking her hand back.
"Who said you could leave? Hold me!" Lan An smirked, using the Spirit Blossom Orb's space to lock her in place.
Chuckling, he wrapped his arms around both women's slender waists, ignoring Mu Zi Yin's gritted teeth.
Li Zhu Luan giggled, but her concern returned at his pallor: "What happened? How'd you end up like this?"
Mu Zi Yin's ears perked, stealing a glance.
Lan An recounted everything—the Blood Spirit Triad's grotesque techniques, their layered defenses, far surpassing other Nascent Soul cultivators.
The women's faces shifted, stunned by the Triad's prowess. When Lan An described the Void Refinement attack, they paled. Mu Zi Yin instinctively checked his injuries, ignoring Lan An and Li Zhu Luan's knowing looks.
Lan An sensed her growing affection, though her heart still wrestled with barriers.
"Sigh." Mu Zi Yin exhaled, relieved his injuries weren't severe, her full chest heaving, captivating Lan An.
He yearned to rest his head there.
"Is he okay, Master?" Li Zhu Luan asked, still worried.
"He's fine. Whatever the reason, surviving a Void Refinement strike at his realm rivals the Golden Era's prodigies," Mu Zi Yin reassured. "Even I, at Spirit Blossom, wouldn't dare claim survival."
Lan An, unswayed by praise, asked seriously: "What's the Golden Era? I don't know it."
"You don't?" Mu Zi Yin blinked, surprised, assuming his mysterious background granted such knowledge.
"Explain, quick!" Lan An urged, curiosity piqued.
Li Zhu Luan leaned in, having heard the term but never its meaning, as Mu Zi Yin had withheld it.
"Top experts across Yue Long Star agreed that cultivators below Spirit Blossom aren't qualified to know the Golden Era, fearing it'd crush younger generations' spirits," Mu Zi Yin said gravely. "But your talents won't be daunted."
"Yue Long Star?" Lan An and Li Zhu Luan gasped, curiosity surging.
Unable to wait, Lan An pulled them to a jade bed, planting a kiss on Mu Zi Yin's cheek, pleading: "Tell me, I'm itching to know!"
"Hmph!" Mu Zi Yin huffed but began: "Yue Long Star's history spans countless years, its lands boundless. No one knows how many peerless geniuses rose or fell. But in the last 500 years, the star bloomed like a garden of myriad flowers, with races thriving and geniuses emerging endlessly."
"Among them, a select few outshone all, stars blazing in the night sky. From different continents and factions, their names echo across the star, known only to the worthy. They're hailed as the Golden Era or Golden Generation of the cultivation world."
"From their first steps, they were invincible in their realm, crossing tiers effortlessly, their talents unmatched. Per Duo Bao Pavilion and Tian Ji Hall's records, all Golden Era members have reached Void Refinement, none over 500 years old."
Li Zhu Luan's face grew solemn. No wonder Mu Zi Yin withheld this—such terrifying feats could shatter most juniors' confidence.
But with Lan An beside her, Li Zhu Luan felt unshaken, believing his potential surpassed the Golden Era.
Lan An's blood boiled, his fighting spirit ignited. "How many are there? When I hit Void Refinement, I'll topple them one by one—no, all of them!"
Mu Zi Yin scoffed: "Many? Such peerless geniuses aren't cabbages. Across Yue Long Star's countless beings, only 69 are recognized as Golden Era."
"69? Not bad," Lan An mused, then froze, urgency flashing. "Do you know their names? Tell me!"
"You're not seriously planning to challenge them, are you?" Mu Zi Yin asked coolly, tossing him a book.
Lan An caught it, eyes locking on three bold words: Golden Ranking. Below, a note: Compiled by Duo Bao Pavilion, forbidden to juniors below Spirit Blossom.
He flipped it open:
Rank 69: Romantic Young Master – Liu Feng, 469 years, Dark Origin Continent, Early Void Refinement.
Rank 68: Earth Fiend – Le Van Luyen, Seven Killers Cult assassin, 450 years, Early Void Refinement.
Lan An's gaze snagged on a name:
Rank 55: Elegant Ice Fairy – Ji Ya, 178 years, Sea Pearl Continent, Early Void Refinement.
"She's Golden Era? No wonder," Lan An glanced at the sleeping Ji Bing, recalling Ji Ya, bound by the Coexistence and Co-death Pact.
Lost in thought, he continued:
Rank 54: Enlightened Ape King, 200 years, Dark Origin Continent, Early Sixth-Turn Beast.
Lan An's lips twitched. Beasts too?
Rank 53: Hundred Blossom Fairy – Su Yan, 178 years, Bai Hua Sect Leader, Early Void Refinement.
He smiled, unsurprised. Another of his treasures.
Rank 49: Hundred-Faced Fairy – Qin Meng Ying, 178 years, Bing Tian Frost Continent, Early Void Refinement.
Lingering on her name, Lan An felt a pang of longing. How was she?
"You know her?" Mu Zi Yin, ever observant, probed.
Lan An grinned, hugging both women tightly, boasting: "Hundred-Faced Fairy Qin Meng Ying, like you two, is my beloved wife!"
Their eyes widened. "As if!" Mu Zi Yin snorted.
"I believe him," Li Zhu Luan nodded earnestly, almost defying her master.
"My sweet Loan!" Lan An kissed her cheek, rewarding her.
Mu Zi Yin glared, fuming at his boldness with her disciple.
Chu! Lan An stole her lips, pulling back: "No jealousy. Everyone gets a share."
"Jealous? Hah!" Mu Zi Yin raged, nearly exploding.
Sensing her fury, Lan An dove back into the Golden Ranking.
Rank 10: Twin Moon Fairy – Linh Yue Ky, 214 years, Linh Clan Patriarch, Late Void Essence.
"My mother-in-law's no slouch," Lan An thought, noting Lan Phá Lôi's absence, likely over 500.
Names passed, their realms climbing, origins growing arcane. Many hailed from unfamiliar factions, including Ninth-Grade powers on Bing Tian Frost Continent: Ice Mysterious Empire and Heavenly Mountain Immortal Realm.
At the top, five names staggered him:
Rank 5: Qin Qin, 2 years, Yellow Sage Continent, Peak Void Refinement.
Rank 4: Treasure Linh – Linh Ye Lian, 300 years, Duo Bao Pavilion Saintess, Early Unity.
Rank 3: Tyrant Linh – Treasure Commander, 479 years, Treasure Origin, Early Unity.
Rank 2: Heaven Slayer, unknown name, 280 years, Seven Stars Cult assassin, Mid Unity Essence.
Rank 1: Demon, unknown name, gender, ~400 years, unknown origin, Late Unity.
Lan An's face hardened. Unity cultivators, surpassing many Eighth-Grade leaders. Duo Bao's Saintess was extraordinary, explaining their dominance. Their tier-crossing prowess made them terrifying.
"Well? Still want to challenge them?" Mu Zi Yin taunted, fearing he'd falter.
"Why not? They're just ahead in age. In a century, I'll crush them!" Lan An laughed, his fighting spirit blazing.
The Path of the Overlord had seemed monotonous; these titans added vibrant challenge.
His fervor captivated the women, their gazes softening.
Sensing their shift, Lan An pulled them into his arms.
"What are you doing?" Mu Zi Yin sensed danger, her voice trembling.
"T-Linh…" Li Zhu Luan stammered, Lan An's masculine scent stirring her, a faint dampness below.
"I need you both," Lan An said gently. "I'll become the strongest, but I need those I love beside me. You're my greatest drive."
"You…" Mu Zi Yin tried to retort, but his sincerity silenced her.
Li Zhu Luan, heart aflame, teared up, hugging him: "I'm yours, Linh. fight me. Don't leave me, and I'll serve you forever."
"Abandon you? Never, silly girl," Lan An kissed her hair.
"Let me go if you want to be intimate!" Mu Zi Yin softened, accepting Li Zhu Luan's love but resisting him.
"No way! Tonight, I'll cherish my treasures. A husband and wives, 300 rounds!" Lan An declared, shocking them.
"Shameless! You'd dare think that?!" Mu Zi Yin gasped, her chest heaving.
Li Zhu Luan hid in his face, blushing, recalling his prowess, secretly eager despite Mu Zi Yin's presence.
"You're mine, wife. Fight me. No defying your husband! You've been indulged; tonight, I'll enforce house rules before Linh," Luan," Lan An grinned, chilling Mu Zi Yin.
Using Spirit Blossom Orb's control, he ignored her protests.
Before Li Zhu's wide eyes,Luan An laid Mu Zi Yin across his lap, pulling down her trousers, her full, round cheeks bare.
Smack!
"Liao!" Lao An An! I'll kill you!" Mu Zi Yin shrieked, mortified.
His slaps sent ripples across her flesh, not painful but numbing, a faint wetness stirring her core.
"Plotting against your husband?" More!" Lan An intensified, smacking her plump cheeks, waves rolling.
Li Zhu Luan gaped, vowing never to cross him—his discipline too humiliating.
Smack!
"Ugh, I…" I… kill you!" Zi Yin moaned, "Mu her dignity crumbling before her disciple, a shameful thrill rising."
"You're imagining," Lan An teased. "Big face won't save you. I'll tame you!"
Her cheeks bore red handprints. Though painless, Lan An ached for her, but her stubbornness demanded this lesson.
Mu Zi Yin soon fell silent, her flushed face ripe as a peach, allure intoxicating.
Lan An gently caressed her, sensing her arousal, flipping her onto the jade bed.
Parting her sleek legs, he saw her glistening flower, petals parted, glistening, inviting.
"My wife, so sensitive," Lan An teased, stroking her, her eyes closing in surrender.
Seeing her yield, Lan An softened, kissing her cheek: "If your heart held no place for me, why does your body respond?"
"Why worry when I'm hurt?"
"Tonight, we three unite, and heaven itself can't stop us."