"A deal?"
The Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth's expression turned peculiar. For countless years, trapped here, others either siphoned its power or sought to subdue it. This was the first time someone proposed a deal.
"Indeed, a deal tied to your freedom…" Lan An smiled confidently, tossing out an irresistible bait, knowing freedom was what the Anomalous Earth craved most.
As expected, the word "freedom" made its massive eyes widen. Its colossal form surged upright, stomping toward Lan An, separated by the formation, growling fiercely,
"Human, you'll suffer greatly if you deceive me…"
"Not at all…" Lan An shrugged, holding Hua Yu Feng's hand and asking,
"Feng'er, can this formation be broken?"
Hua Yu Feng had been studying the intricate patterns of the formation. After a moment, she concluded,
"This formation's base isn't high-grade, but it's been reinforced repeatedly, making it sturdy. However, those reinforcements left flaws. Exploiting those weaknesses, I can break it in less than an hour if all goes well!"
Lan An nodded, understanding. The formation trapping the Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth was like a patched-up rag, seemingly solid but lacking unity. For an expert like Hua Yu Feng, dismantling it wasn't too difficult.
"Little girl, is that true?" The Anomalous Earth roared, its body trembling with excitement.
"Why would I lie?" Hua Yu Feng raised her head proudly, her competitive nature shining.
She didn't mention that most of the formation's weaknesses were caused by the Anomalous Earth's rampages over time. Since Lan An was negotiating, she ensured he held the upper hand, making the Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth believe its freedom depended entirely on them, maximizing Lan An's leverage.
"Speak. What must I do to be freed?" The Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth softened its tone, rumbling.
"Simple. First, help me deal with the Supreme Emperor…" Lan An raised one finger.
"No problem. Even without your request, I wouldn't spare him!" The Anomalous Earth nodded without hesitation. Trapped for eons, it wouldn't rest without causing chaos.
"Second, follow me for eight years, letting me refine you to boost my strength. I'll preserve your sentience, and after eight years, you're free!" Lan An raised another finger, speaking gravely.
ROAR! "Cunning human, you still want my submission?"
The Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth erupted, roaring skyward, itching to tear Lan An apart.
ROAR!
Simultaneously, an Earth Bear formed behind Lan An, its massive fists glaring at the Anomalous Earth, unyielding.
The two bears locked eyes, creating a bizarre scene.
"Hmph, a low-grade True Earth dares challenge me?" The Anomalous Earth grew angrier, feeling insulted.
"Haha, I thought the mightiest Anomalous Earth would be extraordinary, but your vision's so narrow," Lan An shook his head, sighing in mock disappointment, ignoring its reaction.
"Cunning human, what do you mean?" The Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth huffed, its mountain-like body slightly shaking the ground.
"How long have you been trapped? Eight years is a mere fraction. You're enraged over sacrificing eight years for true freedom?" Lan An asked with a faint smile.
"Hmph, eight years isn't long, but I don't trust deceitful humans. What if you don't free me?" The Anomalous Earth, highly sentient, feared Lan An's betrayal. Once refined, it would be enslaved, unable to escape.
"Haha, aren't you overestimating yourself?" Lan An laughed, his will stirring.
Emperor Flame, Heaven-Devouring Wood, Nirvana Spirit Water, and Black-Purple Thunder manifested, shimmering around him like an elemental sovereign.
"How's this possible? Three Anomalous Flames, Anomalous Wood, Anomalous Water, and dual-colored tribulation lightning?" The Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth roared, its shock unprecedented in eons.
Combined, these anomalous elements surpassed it. They lacked sentience due to insufficient accumulation, but this human—how could he wield so many without exploding?
"See? In eight years, I'll reach heights you can't imagine. Who'll need whom then? Freeing you will be trivial…" Lan An stood domineeringly, hands behind his back, confidence radiating from his handsome face.
Even Hua Yu Feng was slightly entranced. A confident man, backed by substance, exuded irresistible charm, affecting not just women but other sentient beings.
The Anomalous Earth was proof, now silent, weighing its choice.
"My goal isn't just you. I aim for greater Heaven and Earth Anomalies, even the top-ranked Anomalous Flame. Don't overestimate your value—you're just a treasure to the White Sand Dynasty. Without you, I'll still rise. This is your only chance!" Lan An pressed, his tone cavalier, as if the Anomalous Earth needed him more.
"Six years… I'll follow you for six years!" The Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth, unwilling to seem lesser, bargained down two years.
"No issue. Six or eight years makes no difference…" Lan An smiled, satisfied. He was confident the Anomalous Earth would choose to follow him for life, unwilling to leave even if driven away.
"Feng'er, break the formation!" Lan An decided swiftly.
Hua Yu Feng nodded, approaching the formation, studying it closely. Targeting its largest flaw, her hands blurred into countless afterimages.
The formation resonated, trembling slightly.
Witnessing this, the Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth looked at Lan An, surprised,
"Aren't you afraid I'll betray you?"
Lan An shook his head dismissively, "If you lack even that much integrity, why would I need you?"
Ignoring the Anomalous Earth, he turned to observe the aerial battles.
Gazing at his unyielding back, the small bear within the colossal form opened its eyes, a flicker of anticipation in its gaze.
"Water Battle Fist – Earth Battle Fist!"
Yan Ruo Xue and her Water Desolate Clone unleashed two domineering punches, shattering space, forcing the Third Elder to spit blood.
Yan Ruo Xue alone was formidable; with a Peak Void Refinement clone, she was overwhelming.
"Surrender your Origin Soul, and I'll spare you!" Yan Ruo Xue, able to dominate but not easily kill, said gravely.
"Dream on! Even if I follow Fourth and Sixth, I won't yield!" The Third Elder roared, his fighting spirit blazing.
"Then die!" Yan Ruo Xue shouted, a bead heavy as a mountain appearing in her hand—the Water-Earth Bead Lan An gifted her.
"Water-Earth Bead – Suppress Mountains and Rivers!"
She unleashed full force, hurling the bead at the Third Elder.
The bead expanded rapidly, bearing countless mountains and rivers like a micro-world, immensely heavy.
"Earth King Seal!" The Third Elder gritted his teeth, countering with a powerful seal.
BOOM!
The Water-Earth Bead was repelled, the Earth King Seal shattered, and the Third Elder staggered back, paling.
"Damn it, why hasn't her Spiritual Energy depleted?" He roared unwillingly.
In this Earth-rich battlefield, one of the Water Desolate Clan's two home grounds, how could Yan Ruo Xue lack Spiritual Energy?
Her clone seized the Water-Earth Bead, smashing it down again, while Yan Ruo Xue unleashed a powerful Water Desolate Battle Canon attack, engaging in close combat.
The Third Elder could only defend and flee, his defeat a matter of time. Against the Water Desolate Clan, a race from the Immortal Realm, his loss was no shame.
Splurt!
Bai Zhi took a knee from a Stone Golem, his jaw dislocated, screaming in pain.
His heart burned with frustration. The Stone Golem's defense was terrifying; his attacks couldn't destroy it, and it fought fearlessly, heedless of pain.
Already maimed by Hua Qing Zhu's sneak attack, Bai Zhi contemplated retreat.
"Earth King Seal!"
The Supreme Emperor conjured two massive seals simultaneously, repelling Bai Suo Mai's beastly form and sending Hua Jue flying dozens of steps.
"No one can defeat me. As long as I stand, the White Sand Dynasty endures!" The Supreme Emperor declared grandly, hovering in the void, coldly surveying the battlefield.
Seeing his forces routed, some resorting to futile self-detonations, he burned with rage and regret.
Had he dissuaded the White Sand Emperor from coveting Wen Lang's techniques, or not oppressed the Hua Clan excessively, this disaster might've been avoided.
As the saying goes, a dam breaks when water overflows. Their actions against the Hua Clan were unbearable—forcing their top female genius into a loveless marriage and their top male genius into becoming a eunuch.
No one could endure such humiliation.
Previously, the Supreme Emperor never believed the Hua Clan would dare rebel or had the strength to. With the Yu and Bai Clans allied, they could crush the Hua Clan, albeit at a cost.
But the Harem's emergence proved human plans were no match for fate.
BOOM!
Bai Suo Mai's massive, starlit tail smashed toward the Supreme Emperor.
"Scram!" He countered with two fierce punches, repelling it.
This stalemate wasn't sustainable; he needed to preserve the royal bloodline.
His gaze locked onto Bai Tian, pursued by Ji Bing and Ji Ya, roaring,
"Bai Tian, crush the jade pendant I gave you!"
BOOM!
Another explosion echoed. Before dying, the Fifth Elder glared venomously at Yan Yue Qi.
She ignored him, swiftly teleporting to the Palace Tree via her token.
Lan An sensed Yan Yue Qi's intent to return and released her from the Spirit Realm Pearl.
"I saw the Supreme Emperor order Bai Tian to do something. We must aid Sisters Ji Ya and Ji Bing…" Yan Yue Qi said, speeding off.
Lan An nodded, not to be outdone by his wife. After cautioning Hua Yu Feng, the Eight Desolate Heavenly Flame roared behind him as he joined the fray, targeting Bai Zhi's life.
"Jade pendant?"
Bai Tian, frantically escaping while countering Ji Ya and Ji Bing, who were slowed by prior injuries, recalled the pendant the Supreme Emperor gave him, instructing its use against unbeatable foes.
Though unsure of its purpose—only knowing it could summon a former ally's disciple—Bai Tian, skeptical of this "disciple," took it out amid the monstrous foes.
Yan Yue Qi arrived, wasting no time, unleashing a Five Thunder Bombardment at Bai Tian's head.
BOOM BOOM!
The sky condensed five massive thunder pillars, crashing down.
"No choice!" Bai Tian, cornered, crushed the pendant.
As the thunder pillars descended…
HUM HUM HUM!
A piercing sword hum echoed across the heavens. Five sword qi bursts appeared before Bai Tian, slicing through the void from afar.
The razor-sharp sword qi, indescribable, shattered Yan Yue Qi's thunder pillars into nothingness.
Before the shrinking eyes of the crowd, a sharp rift tore open before Bai Tian.
A figure holding a long sword stepped out leisurely.
A man in simple, elegant green robes, his long hair loose, his plain face unremarkable, blending into any crowd.
Yet, around him, faint sword qi swirled, sharp and domineering, as if it could steal souls.
Seeing him, Ji Ya, Ji Bing, and Yan Yue Qi's eyes contracted, their voices grave, resounding across the heavens,
"Golden List Fifth Rank, Green-Robed Swordmaster – Qin Tian!"