Lan An shoved open the doors of Roxue Palace, his heart pounding as Yan Roxue's anguished screams pierced the air. The chamber vibrated with chaotic energy, the Palace Tree trembling as waves of icy blue power surged like a tempest. Frost coated the walls, and torrents of water energy lashed out, threatening to tear the space apart.
"Roxue!" he shouted, dodging a whip-like stream of energy that cracked the floor where he'd stood.
At the center, Yan Roxue knelt, her frail figure shaking violently. Her silvery hair danced wildly, her face pale as moonlight, twisted in agony. Her gentle eyes glowed an eerie azure, reflecting the primal force of the Water Desolation Bloodline. A vortex of liquid energy swirled around her, pulsing with destructive intent.
"Husband… it's too strong…" she gasped, clutching her chest, her voice drowned by the roar of the bloodline's power.
Lan An's chest tightened. The Water Desolation Bloodline was a legendary heritage, capable of commanding oceans and shattering continents, but its refinement was a perilous trial. If unchecked, it could devour her body and soul.
"Hold on, Roxue. I'm with you," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos. He summoned the Thunder Emperor Scepter, its golden lightning crackling to stabilize the turbulent space. "Jin Ni, what's going wrong?"
"The bloodline's essence is overwhelming her," Jin Ni replied urgently in his mind. "Her Peak Spirit Transformation cultivation can't contain it. You must channel the excess energy, or her meridians will collapse!"
Lan An nodded, his resolve hardening. He activated the Shadow Flight Cloak, its dark aura shielding him as he wove through the violent waves. Reaching Yan Roxue, he knelt beside her, placing a firm hand on her trembling shoulder.
"Roxue, listen to me. Guide the energy through me," he instructed, his tone calm but commanding.
Her glowing eyes flickered, meeting his with desperation. "I… can't control it…" she whispered, tears mixing with the swirling water energy.
"You can. We'll do this together," Lan An assured, his hand igniting with the gentle warmth of Eight Desolations Heavenly Flame. The flame's heat countered the icy torrent, creating a delicate balance. "Follow my spiritual energy."
He sent a strand of his spiritual power into her, using the Thunder Fire Mysterious Art to tame the chaotic bloodline. The energy resisted, slashing at him with icy blades that seared his skin, but he gritted his teeth, his Extreme Ice body tempering—forged in the Extreme Ice Demon Monarch's tomb—holding firm.
Outside, the women stood tense, their faces pale. Hua Yu Feng's array patterns shimmered, ready to reinforce the palace. Tuo Qing Xuan gripped her storage ring, prepared to concoct a stabilizing pill. Bing Ling Er clutched her Ice Heaven Axe, her starry eyes filled with worry.
"Will Sister Roxue be alright?" Bing Ling Er asked, her voice trembling.
"Little Nam will save her," Wan Rong said, though her clenched fists betrayed her anxiety.
Inside, Lan An's efforts bore fruit. The vortex slowed, its wild energy bending to his guidance. Yan Roxue's breathing steadied, her eyes regaining their gentle clarity. "Little Nam… it's working…" she murmured, gripping his hand tightly.
"Almost there," he encouraged, sweat dripping from his brow. He activated Earth Pulse Resonance, syncing with the Palace Tree's natural energy to anchor the bloodline's power. The chaotic torrent became a steady stream, flowing through him and grounding into the tree's roots.
BOOM!
A final surge erupted, shaking the palace. Lan An stood firm, his Three-Legged Golden Crow Bloodline flaring to absorb the excess. The frost receded, the vortex collapsed into a gentle ripple, and the palace stabilized.
Yan Roxue collapsed against him, exhausted but alive. Her aura pulsed stronger, the Water Desolation Bloodline fully integrated, pushing her cultivation to the cusp of Void Refinement.
"You did it, Roxue," Lan An whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her pale face, his eyes warm with relief.
"Thanks to you, Husband," she replied, her voice faint but filled with gratitude. She leaned into his embrace, her body still trembling from the ordeal.
He held her close, his heart swelling. "Rest now. I've got you."
Carrying her out, he met the anxious gazes of the women. "Is she okay?" Tuo Qing Xuan asked, her voice tight.
"She's fine, just drained," Lan An said, laying Yan Roxue on a bed of soft vines conjured by the Palace Tree. "The bloodline's hers now."
Hua Yu Feng exhaled, her array patterns fading. "That was too close. The Water Desolation Bloodline is terrifying."
"It suits her," Bing Ling Er said, her dimples flashing with a relieved smile. "Sister Roxue's gentle, but now she's a force of nature."
Wan Rong nodded, her eyes softening. "Little Nam, you never let us down."
Lan An gave a faint smile, but his mind churned. The bloodline's instability hinted at deeper mysteries. "Jin Ni, could the Soul Stabilizing Coffin be involved?" he asked silently.
"It's likely," Jin Ni replied. "Her soul was restored with its power, and the coffin's influence might have amplified the bloodline's volatility. You'll need to explore the Scenic Land to uncover more."
Lan An's gaze hardened. The Scenic Land, opening in three days, promised both opportunity and danger. Bai Lie and Bai Tian's secret plot loomed, and the Strange Earth's secrets called. With Wu San Niang's journey to Savage Star approaching, he needed to prepare.
"Roxue, rest well. We've got challenges ahead," he said, kissing her forehead.
She nodded weakly, her eyes shining with trust. "With you, I fear nothing."
As the women gathered to tend Yan Roxue, Lan An's thoughts turned to Hua Yu Feng. The Array Transformation Sacred Physique awaited her decision, but its painful process weighed on him. He approached her, his expression serious.
"Yu Feng, we need to talk about the Array Transformation Sacred Physique," he said, his voice low.
Her eyes narrowed, sensing his hesitation. "What's the catch?"
"It's not an easy path. Carving array patterns into your body will be excruciating, like tattooing your soul. The higher your Array Master level, the more patterns, the more pain," he explained, his voice heavy. "But it'll deepen your understanding of arrays, forging you into a true master."
Hua Yu Feng's face remained stoic, but her eyes gleamed with resolve. "Pain is nothing new to me. If it makes me stronger, I'll endure it. When can we begin?"
Lan An's heart ached, but he admired her strength. "Soon. I'll prepare everything to ease the process. The choice is yours, but I'll be with you."
She nodded, her lips curving slightly. "You'd better not go soft on me, Little Nam."
He chuckled, the tension easing. "Never."
As the group settled, a faint tremor rippled through the Spirit Realm Pearl. Jin Ni's voice cut through his mind. "Another palace is stirring. It's Fire Lotus Palace. Yan Hong Lian's about to emerge!"
Lan An's eyes lit up. Another of his women was rising, and with her Great Sun Divine Body nearing completion, the Scenic Land expedition would gain another powerhouse. But with Bai Lie's schemes and the Soul Stabilizing Coffin's mysteries lurking, danger was never far.