Jun Lin Inn, Lotus Pavilion
Ignoring the maimed Nascent Soul cultivator writhing on the street and the horrified stares of onlookers, Lan An stepped into Jun Lin Inn, shelving plans to tally his gains. He made his way to the lotus pavilion, a tranquil oasis amid the lake.
As expected, Qin Meng Ying's captivating silhouette sat there, sipping tea. The fragrant aroma warmed Lan An's heart.
"Meng Ying, thank you for your aid," he said, clasping his hands warmly.
"Sit," she replied, turning with a gesture. Her full lips, set in a marred yet composed face, spoke calmly. "Some fool blocked my inn's door, disrupting business. It's unrelated to you, Xiao Nan."
"Still, my thanks," Lan An said, chuckling inwardly. Last time, she said the inn wasn't for profit; now it's about business? Women's hearts are ever-changing.
"Let's move on," Qin Meng Ying said, her smile teasing. "Xiao Nan, you've shaken Ling Wu City. Dual Spirit and Body Cultivation, uncanny skills, cross-realm combat as easy as drinking water—you're the dream of every starry-eyed maiden."
Lan An shook his head, wryly. "Just a bit of skill. Compared to you, I'm nothing."
"How old are you, Xiao Nan?" she asked, curious.
Seeing her expectant gaze, he answered honestly, "Turning 17 soon."
"I'm nearly 200," she said casually, nearly making him leap from his seat.
Noticing his shock, she huffed, "What, think I'm old?"
"No, not at all! For cultivators, lifespan's just a number. How could I judge you?" Lan An hastened to explain, catching a playful pout in her tone, almost lover-like.
"Hmph." Qin Meng Ying flushed slightly, her freckled face tinged pink, realizing her overreach. She shifted topics. "At your age, planning to join Sacred Lotus Academy?"
"Absolutely. It gathers the continent's young elites. I'm eager for it!" Lan An affirmed.
Her eyes flickered with subtle joy at his intent. She nodded, pleased.
"Sacred Lotus Academy is indeed a den of dragons and tigers, but not every genius flocks there," she added.
"Oh?" Lan An blinked. A place coveted by Eighth-Grade clans like the Yan Clan, yet some shunned it?
Sensing his curiosity, Qin Meng Ying explained patiently. "Bing Tian Frost Continent is vast, with hidden powers boasting unique legacies. Sacred Lotus Academy may not meet their needs."
"Like what?" Lan An asked, intrigued.
"For instance, Tian Ji Hall. Its disciples, though few, master divination and samsara's secrets. The Academy, despite its might, lacks their needed heritage. Or take Seven Kills Sect, a notorious assassin order. Their prodigies are forged in shadows for slaughter, ruthless and cold. The Academy's upright ethos, with its thorough background checks, naturally bars them. Then there's Beast Taming War Sect, who fight via tamed beasts—unsuited for the Academy's structure."
Her examples ignited Lan An's excitement. Bing Tian Frost Continent teemed with diverse powers, each vying for supremacy in vibrant chaos.
"These three forces wield vast influence across Viet Long Star, their traces everywhere. Only top experts know their true headquarters," she continued.
Lan An nodded, awed. Bing Tian Frost Continent was but a quarter of Viet Long Star, yet these powers spanned the planet, dwarfing Sacred Lotus Academy's allure.
"Your knowledge outshines ten thousand scrolls, Meng Ying. I'm deeply grateful," he said sincerely.
She waved it off. "Mere trivia. If you see me as a friend, skip the formalities."
Lan An smiled, sipping her tea. Its flavor seeped into his core, faintly boosting his spiritual energy. "Exquisite tea," he marveled, noting her extravagance.
Inwardly, he queried Jin'er: "What spiritual roots does Meng Ying have?"
"Thunder, Fire, and Darkness," Jin'er replied, nearly making Lan An choke.
Three spiritual roots? His first encounter with such a prodigy. Though he'd suspected her extraordinary origins, this surpassed Lan Po Lei's dual-root talent.
"How potent is the Darkness root?" he pressed, calming his shock.
"Rare, but its strength depends on the user," Jin'er said, unusually praising. "This woman's talent is staggering. At 181, she's Early-Stage Void Refinement. A millennium might birth one like her on this continent. Her bottleneck's loosening; a spark or opportunity could push her to Mid-Stage Void Refinement."
Lan An's resolve solidified. He'd probed her roots to repay her aid. With his System and 10900 Prestige Points, he could offer something meaningful.
Without hesitation, he produced the Thunder-Fire Mysterious Art.
Qin Meng Ying's eyes widened as he presented an ancient tome. "This is a technique I found in a cave dwelling. It should aid you," Lan An said, smiling warmly.
She accepted it, her gaze locking on the title: Thunder-Fire Mysterious Art – Supreme Earth-Grade Technique.
"Evil Emperor's technique?" she gasped, a rare lapse for an Early-Stage Void Refinement cultivator.
"You know the Evil Emperor?" Lan An jolted. The enigmatic figure who'd united him with his wives intrigued him deeply.
"Where'd you get this?" Qin Meng Ying waved, erecting a spiritual barrier around the pavilion, blocking all prying.
"From a cave in Shan Mu Forest," Lan An answered.
"So close to Ling Wu City," she said, wryly. "Is it useful to me?"
Seeing his earnest concern, her heart softened. She explained gently, "The Evil Emperor, from southern Bing Tian Frost Continent two millennia ago, bore Fire and Thunder roots. A master of arrays and alchemy, his fame was unrivaled. Neither fully righteous nor wicked, he harmed none gravely nor did great good, living freely, unbound, wandering the world. His Thunder-Fire Mysterious Art, his signature, fuses Fire and Thunder, amplifying their might severalfold. It's perfect for me."
Her warm gaze met Lan An's. Though she cultivated a Heaven-Grade technique, this art's fusion ability would boost her combat power and aid her breakthrough.
Relieved it suited her, Lan An pressed, "Why did the Evil Emperor fall?"
Qin Meng Ying sighed, her eyes distant. "Fifteen hundred years ago, Bing Xuan Empire's Emperor, a Ninth-Grade power, sired a prince with potent Thunder and Fire roots. Though not Ice-aligned, the Emperor cherished him. But the Empire's Ice techniques couldn't nurture him properly. At that time, the Evil Emperor's fame and Thunder-Fire Mysterious Art drew their attention."
"Did they kill him for it?" Lan An's killing intent flared.
"Close enough," she murmured. "The Emperor sought to buy the technique, but the Evil Emperor, proud, reserved it for a true heir, refusing to sell. They clashed. The Emperor, at Peak Void Refinement, outranked the Evil Emperor's Mid-Stage Void Refinement. Yet, his fused Thunder-Fire power matched the Emperor blow for blow, shaming and alarming him. Driven by fear and greed, the Emperor rallied his Ninth-Grade allies, trapping the Evil Emperor in a grand array. He self-detonated, taking countless foes with him, leaving the Emperor gravely wounded, forcing a long seclusion. The Thunder-Fire Mysterious Art vanished, sought by many, presumed lost—until you found it, his legacy for a worthy successor."
Her tale stoked Lan An's fury at Bing Xuan Empire. She gently infused him with calming spiritual energy.
Regaining composure, he exhaled, suppressing his rage. "If Thunder-Fire Mysterious Art helps, it's yours. Don't refuse if you see me as a friend."
"Hmph, who's refusing?" Qin Meng Ying huffed, her eyes twinkling. Only a fool would decline such a treasure.
"I gave a copy to the Yan Clan, though. I hope you avoid conflict," Lan An admitted, wary of future misunderstandings.
"Yan Clan? Yan Yue Qi's family?" she frowned.
"Yan Yue Qi?" Lan An blinked, confused.
"Their matriarch, you dolt. You gave it without knowing?" she teased.
"To her daughter," Lan An said, wryly, realizing Yan Yue Qi was his future mother-in-law.
"Quite the charmer, huh?" she shot him a sidelong glance.
"Haha," Lan An scratched his head, unabashed. A man's charm was no shame.
"Enough, go. Don't disrupt my cultivation," she said, shooing him with a sudden shift.
Lan An nodded, chuckling, and rose to leave.
"Wait," she called.
He turned, catching a brown object. His Spirit Earth Cauldron thrummed wildly, craving it. Suppressing it, he examined a forearm-sized lump of earth, radiating dense Earth Spiritual Energy.
"It's True Earth, enhancing your Earth Spiritual Energy's grade. Now go," Qin Meng Ying said, her back to him, urging him out.
Warmth flooded Lan An's heart. Resisting the urge to embrace her, he smiled deeply and left.
Her silhouette remained still, but her divine sense trailed his departing figure until he vanished…
The lotus pavilion returned to its quiet serenity.