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Spirit Blossom Orb, Shocking Ties
"Master?" Lan An gaped, stunned.
"Loan'er, why are you here?" Mu Zi Yin, equally shocked, glanced between Lan An and Li Zhu Luan, then at the "sleeping" Ji Bing and meditating Bai Su Mei. Her face paled, voice trembling: "Loan'er, are you… this man's woman?"
"W-Woman? What woman?" Li Zhu Luan, still reeling, stammered, seeing her master's ashen face.
"What's going on? Why are you in his artifact?" Mu Zi Yin swayed, the world spinning.
Lan An steadied her waist, transmitting to Li Zhu Luan: "Let me explain, don't worry."
Their bond had deepened over time, not crossing the final line, but Lan An saw her as his woman, their sibling-like address intimate.
Seeing Lan An's serious face and Mu Zi Yin in his arms, Li Zhu Luan's heart tangled. Young but perceptive, she sensed their unusual connection.
Trusting Lan An, she bit her lip, stepping back.
Lan An, inwardly reeling, feigned calm. He hadn't known they were master and disciple, but it made sense—Mu Zi Yin, a Spirit Blossom elder of Tian Mu Sect, fit Li Zhu Luan's master's profile. Both bore Wood Spirit Roots and stunning beauty.
Recalling past clues, he realized he'd overlooked their link.
"Remember me mentioning killing Muo Hao?" Lan An sat her on Ji Bing's former jade bed.
"Go on," Mu Zi Yin nodded, breathing deeply to steady herself.
Lan An recounted Muo Hao's scheme, kidnapping Uncle Wu, his death, and taking Li Zhu Luan under his wing.
Mu Zi Yin fell silent. Knowing Muo Hao's vile nature, she'd warned Li Zhu Luan to avoid him, never expecting such treachery.
Thankfully, Lan An intervened.
Her heart jolted, recalling her intimacy with him and Li Zhu Luan's deference. After a long pause, she said coldly: "You can only see Loan'er as a sister, or never face me again!"
Lan An frowned, grasping her hand firmly: "I cherish and respect you, but I also care for Trúc Loan. She's my confidante."
"Hmph, you want the sweetest cane and the whole field? Too greedy," Mu Zi Yin scoffed, seeing Li Zhu Luan as a daughter, unwilling to let her fall to him.
"I, Lan An, have the right to be greedy," he declared arrogantly, pulling her close.
"You—" Mu Zi Yin choked, unable to push him away.
In the Spirit Blossom Orb, Lan An was sovereign. Without shattering it from within, she was a caged bird.
If he desired her now, she'd be powerless.
"I'll prove over time I'm worthy of both you and your disciple," Lan An vowed.
"Shameless," Mu Zi Yin spat.
"How's that shameless? You're not blood-related, and you're not old. Be sisters for me," he coaxed.
"Dream on," she retorted, her curses repetitive.
"No rush. Time will prove it," Lan An grinned.
"Are they your women too?" Mu Zi Yin glanced at Bai Su Mei and Ji Bing, silently admiring their beauty.
"Indeed, and you, Zi Yin, are mine," he affirmed.
She closed her eyes, silent, signaling dismissal.
By the Stream, Tender Trust
Lan An watched Li Zhu Luan pace anxiously, stealing glances at him and her master, her innocence endearing.
"Let's leave, give her peace," he said, taking her delicate hand, exiting the Spirit Blossom Orb.
"Hmph," Mu Zi Yin snorted, suppressing her turmoil, sitting cross-legged to cultivate.
The Spirit Blossom Orb's tripled spiritual density aided her slow recovery, though far from dual cultivation's speed.
By the stream, the pair appeared.
"How are you with Master?" Li Zhu Luan's eyes widened, uneasy.
Lan An pulled her to sit on the rock, hugging her slender waist.
She leaned into his sturdy chest, feeling his strong heartbeat, awaiting his explanation.
Inhaling her youthful scent, Lan An recounted everything—his rescue of Mu Zi Yin, Duan Zhi Ping's betrayal, and their intimacy.
Li Zhu Luan trembled, stunned he'd claimed her master. Her feelings grew complex. She barely knew Duan Zhi Ping, a distant figure always in seclusion or on missions.
Her master's suffering pained her.
Fearing her overthinking, Lan An soothed: "Zi Yin's a good woman, like you. I won't lose either of you."
"Master has nowhere to return. I can't abandon her," he added.
Li Zhu Luan nodded, pitying her master's plight, unable to imagine such betrayal.
"Rest easy. Zi Yin needs solitude now. Don't worry, I've planned everything," he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
Blushing, she nodded softly: "I trust you."
Lan An smiled, producing the Black Sea Stone Box.
"This I took from Duan. I didn't show it before Zi Yin, fearing it'd upset her," he explained, seeing her curiosity.
Opening it, spiritual energy surged inward, draining even Lan An's reserves. Li Zhu Luan, weaker, paled.
"Don't fear, I'm here," he reassured. For Duan to betray his wife, this was no ordinary treasure.
Gritting his teeth, Lan An fully opened it.
Inside lay a gnarled, broken tree with dark green veins, greedily devouring spiritual energy.
"Is this… Strange Wood?" Li Zhu Luan's voice quivered, her Wood affinity sensing its nature.
"Strange Wood? Know any types?" Lan An asked gravely. Knowing of Strange Flames, Strange Wood wasn't surprising.
"No, I've never accessed such knowledge," Li Zhu Luan said gently. "I only know Strange Wood forms over eons, sometimes gaining sentience, each with unique abilities."
"It's Devouring Sky Wood, juvenile, perfect for your Cauldron Condensation," Kim'er appeared, eyeing it excitedly.
"Explain," Lan An urged.
"Devouring Sky Wood absorbs all energies, except Strange Flames," Kim'er said. "Remember the Tree Demon draining beasts' vitality?"
"Of course," Lan An nodded, the memory fresh.
"I suspected it grew near Devouring Sky Wood, gaining that ability," Kim'er continued. "Wood is gentle, unlike torturous Strange Flames, but refining it demands vast spiritual energy, or it'll devour you, killing you before success."
"It's like it's made for me," Lan An admitted, his three great cauldrons ensuring dominance over it.
Yet, with Wood-affined women—Yan Die Qing, Li Zhu Luan, Mu Zi Yin—he hesitated to claim it alone.
"With your realm, condensing a cauldron rivaling Blazing Heart Cauldron is ideal, but its power can only be shared with one other," Kim'er doused his hopes.
"Is that so?" Lan An's face darkened.
"Don't rush. Find other Strange Woods, even higher-grade ones, for them later," Kim'er encouraged. "To others, Strange Wood is priceless, but upgrade the system, and you can summon or buy them."
"Really? What's the next upgrade condition?" Lan An's eyes lit up.
"Six Cauldrons or Spirit Blossom soul power," Kim'er said casually.
Lan An's mouth twitched, but he was confident, though it'd take time.
Noting Li Zhu Luan's near-Golden Core breakthrough, he decided to refine the Devouring Sky Wood with her, but not yet, given Mu Zi Yin's situation.
Stowing it, he took her hand to leave.
"Where'd this shameless couple come from, sneaking to this wilderness for love?" a shrill voice interrupted, darkening Lan An's face.
Even gentle Li Zhu Luan glared.
Rustling sounded. Three figures descended on giant swords—Sword Flight.
Lan An locked onto them: two men, one woman, around forty, in matching robes, clearly from one faction.
The woman, Early Nascent Soul, had cunning eyes, glaring hatefully at Li Zhu Luan. The men, Mid Nascent Soul, eyed Lan An with jealousy.
"Nan Gong Clan?" Li Zhu Luan's brows furrowed, recognizing them.
"Tch, tch, didn't expect Tian Mu Sect's rumored missing beauty here, dallying with a pretty boy," the woman mocked.
The men's envy burned, drawn by the spiritual surge, stumbling on the intimate pair.
"I'm no longer Tian Mu's," Li Zhu Luan said boldly, holding Lan An's hand.
"Haha, think Tian Mu's dogs won't spit blood hearing that?" the woman sneered, then hissed: "Think I'm a child to believe you?"
She assumed Li Zhu Luan lied out of fear, given the deep Nan Gong-Tian Mu feud, often fatal in encounters.
Slap!
A blur flashed. The woman's face swelled with a red handprint, a tooth dislodged.
Lan An returned to Li Zhu Luan's side, saying calmly: "Insult my darling, you get hit."
Li Zhu Luan's heart fluttered.
The air froze. The woman, stunned, touched her stinging face.
The men's faces grew grave. Lan An's speed outmatched them.
His physical cultivation, honed body, and Phantom Charm Wander Step made him untouchable.
"Who are you?" the woman rasped, suppressing rage.
She knew her strength—sneak attacks by Nascent Souls were futile, yet he succeeded.
No ordinary man could catch Li Zhu Luan's eye.
"Dead men don't need names," Lan An said coolly, alarming them.
"You're mad! A few words, and you'd kill us?" one man shouted.
"If I were weaker, Trúc Loan would've been humiliated unjustly. You wouldn't let us go," Lan An sneered. "Since I'm strong, why spare you?"
He spoke boldly but aimed to silence them, protecting the Li Clan. If Tian Mu learned Li Zhu Luan was with him…
"Hmph, don't think your tricks make you invincible. We don't fear you," the other man scoffed.
"No time for nonsense," Lan An said.
ROAR!
The Earth Bear's majestic phantom appeared, arms crossed.
"Be careful, Brother. Nan Gong excels in sword arts. I'll support from behind," Li Zhu Luan transmitted, her kindness vanishing against foes.
Clever, she knew Lan An shielded her Li Clan.
"Playing tricks!" the woman shrieked, bolstering herself, charging with her sword.
Clang!
The Earth Bear grabbed her blade with brutish hands.
Her face paled, struggling to free it, yelling: "Help me!"
The men exchanged glances, shouting: "Nan Gong Sword Art!"
Dense sword shadows blanketed the sky, targeting Lan An near the Earth Bear.
"Ten Thousand Wood Bind!" Li Zhu Luan's hands wove seals, vines erupting to entangle the men.
"Scram!" one man roared, slashing the vines to ribbons.
Lan An seized the moment, Earth Battle Boots amplifying his Phantom Charm, vanishing.
Reappearing beside the other man, he struck: "Great Flood Kick!"
Mysterious Water surged, a tidal force crushing the man's chest.
Crack!
Bones shattered.
ROAR!
The Earth Bear gripped the woman's sword, its free hand smashing toward her frail form.
Thud!
She collapsed like a sack, eyes wide with fear: "What technique is this? Who is he?"
The Earth Bear and Four Spirits Soul Guardian summons weren't overly potent, draining a third of normal cultivators' energy, limiting use.
But Lan An's great cauldrons supplied endless energy, making the Earth Bear near-immortal unless recalled, its might amplified.
The surviving man, freeing himself from Li Zhu Luan's vines, sensed lethal danger, his hair standing on end.