It took two months of dual cultivation to stabilize his wives' injuries and exhaustion, though they'd need more time to return to peak condition.
Lan An, like an emperor, rested his head on Yan Yue Qi's lap, her delicate fingers massaging his temples, soothing him. Bai Suo Mai, obediently kneeling beside him, leaned forward, offering her full, sweet breasts for him to savor.
"Mm… Master, you're so vigorous. Are so many sisters still not enough?"
Bai Suo Mai pampered him, caressing his cheek.
"How could it be enough? Best to gather all the heaven's favored daughters as my concubines…" Yan Yue Qi said eagerly, ignoring the other women's widened eyes.
They finally understood why their husband's harem grew so fast—Yan Yue Qi was spoiling him.
"Mother, if that happens, he won't have time for you…" Yan Hong Lian protested.
"Haha, don't we have the Acceleration Array? No need to worry about time…" Yan Yue Qi laughed carefree, unbothered.
"Well said. Suo Mai supports Sister Qi…" Bai Suo Mai nodded seriously.
The other women fell silent. With these two powerhouses speaking, what could they say?
Lan An, caught between laughter and tears, thought, I'm trying to restrain myself, okay?
Jin'er rolled her eyes. Believe you? As if.
"Little Nan, this woman's strength has surpassed mine!" Qin Meng Ying pouted at Lan An and Yan Yue Qi, her competitive nature flaring.
She'd long been jealous of Yan Yue Qi's Thunder Emperor Scepter.
"I've prepared something for you. Interested?" Lan An left the other women's embrace, wrapping his arms around Qin Meng Ying's captivating figure, mysteriously producing an item.
ROAR!
A deafening sound echoed as a brown flame, shaped like a towering giant, radiated boundless power.
"Great Strength Earth Flame? From the Fire Underworld Sect!"
The women instantly recognized the Anomalous Fire, their eyes gleaming. Their husband still had an Anomalous Fire and Anomalous Earth, signaling a boost in the Harem's strength.
Surprisingly, Qin Meng Ying shook her head, saying,
"The Great Strength Earth Flame focuses on raw power, not my forte. It'd be wasted on me. Save it for a sister more suited."
The women nodded, realizing she was right.
Lan An was touched. His woman was considering the Harem's benefit. He mused, "The Harem's fire cultivators are you, Ai Xin, Yue Qi, Hong Lian, Qing Xuan, and Lian Hua. Who should get it?"
"Mother and I aren't suited…" Yan Hong Lian glanced at Yan Yue Qi, shaking her head. Their combat style wasn't power-based.
"Lian Hua doesn't need it either. A delicate girl like her refining the Great Strength Earth Flame would be odd…" Hua Qing Zhu spoke for her daughter.
Ai Xin, a Weapon Refiner, and Qing Xuan, a Pill Refiner, didn't need it either.
"Looks like it's for Master!" Lan An smiled, retracting the Great Strength Earth Flame.
The women's eyes lit up. The Great Strength Earth Flame suited Wu San Niang perfectly, especially paired with her Rock Elephant Heavy Flame—a perfect match.
Since Wu San Niang secured the flame, giving it to her was fitting.
"Giggle, giving the Great Strength Earth Flame to Master, you can't neglect your share…" Qin Meng Ying teased, poking Lan An's forehead.
The women laughed. Dual cultivation could split an Anomalous Fire's power between partners, but with Wu San Niang…
"Chuckle, Husband, just take Master. It solves everything—you'd share the Great Strength Earth Flame, gain some Rock Elephant Heavy Flame, and give her some of your Anomalous Fire. One arrow, many targets!" Yan Yue Qi said seductively, her words deadly.
Splurt!
Lan An nearly choked, and the women stared oddly at Yan Yue Qi. How chaotic did she want the Harem to be? Taking the Frenzied War Queen as a sister was wildly bold.
"What's strange? Master arranged for us three sisters to marry Husband. We can matchmake her with him. It depends on Husband's skill!" Yan Yue Qi shrugged smugly, thrilled by her idea.
"She's right… Your upcoming private training with Master is a once-in-a-millennium chance!" Qin Meng Ying said excitedly.
Lan An rubbed his forehead, deflecting, "I haven't even won over the three Su Yan sisters yet, what's the rush?"
"Right, Husband, why hasn't Sister Mi come out?" Yan Ruo Xue asked about Su Mi, worried by her long seclusion.
Lan An explained that Su Mi was the first to end her seclusion, awakening her Physique.
The women were envious. The Nine Yin Heavenly Physique sounded formidable.
After Lan An's explanations, the Harem knew Bloodlines and Physiques were crucial for reaching the cultivation world's peak, fueling their aspirations.
"Husband, hurry back. I can't wait to forge the Great Sun Divine Physique!" Yan Hong Lian clung to his arm, acting coy.
Per the Nine Yang Divine Art, combining it with the Great Sun Divine Physique would unleash terrifying power.
"Don't worry, darling!"
Lan An kissed her cheek, nodding, then waved to three other women,
"Zi Yin, Die Qing, Zhu Luan… Master Jin'er sent gifts for you, and she instructed the other wives not to be impatient. Bloodlines and Physiques will come, but you can only choose one…"
"Really?" The three women beamed. Jin'er had become a divine figure in their eyes, capable of anything.
The women had probed Lan An about whether Jin'er was from the legendary Immortal Realm, but he always dodged, leaving them curious.
He didn't know how to answer. If he claimed Jin'er was from the Immortal Realm, what would happen if they ascended and he couldn't produce a master?
Best to keep it secret.
Not keeping the three waiting, Lan An produced three jade bottles.
ROAR ROAR ROAR!
Three earth-shaking roars startled the distant Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth, sensing immense pressure.
"What is the Harem? Layers of secrets…"
It muttered, full of grievances.
For two months, Lan An had ignored it, leaving it sulking. I'm the mightiest Anomalous Earth! Can you show some care?
Before the women, three majestic phantoms loomed above three pure Bloodline drops.
A colossal butterfly with four crystalline wings, glowing purple, ethereal and mysterious.
A splendid sparrow, its emerald feathers noble, twin tails flowing elegantly in the breeze.
The final phantom was ferocious, with massive fleshy wings that could shroud the sky, sharp claws, and a body radiating ceaseless gales.
"Ancient Purple Wood Butterfly, Wood Green Sparrow, Blue Wind Winged Dragon?!" Bai Suo Mai shot up, staring at the phantoms, shocked.
"Suo Mai, you recognize them?" Lan An asked, surprised.
"I do! My ancestral Bloodline memories include these three divine beasts, mighty existences in the Immortal Realm…" Bai Suo Mai nodded, stunned that her husband produced such extraordinary Bloodlines.
"Husband… can I refine it now?" Li Zhu Luan gazed at the Wood Green Sparrow Bloodline, an intense longing surging within, captivated by its beauty.
"No!" Lan An denied, shaking the jade bottles, making the phantoms vanish. He said seriously, "I'm showing you to motivate faster cultivation. You must reach Integration Realm to touch these, or the consequences will be dire…"
"I understand!" Mu Zi Yin and Yan Die Qing took deep breaths. Bloodlines were their dream, especially after seeing Yan Ruo Xue and Bai Suo Mai's power.
Lan An distributed them: Mu Zi Yin got the Ancient Purple Wood Butterfly, Yan Die Qing the Blue Wind Winged Dragon, and Li Zhu Luan the Wood Green Sparrow.
The three carefully stored them, their eyes blazing with determination. They held weapons they couldn't yet use, a frustrating feeling, urging them to boost their cultivation.
The other women noted this, resolving to reach Integration Realm quickly to refine their Bloodlines without delay, unlike Mu Zi Yin's group, restless with anticipation.
"Husband, I'm already at Integration Realm, just waiting for your Bloodline…" Hua Qing Zhu batted her eyes, gently reminding him.
Lan An nodded, eager to find a suitable Bloodline for her, curious about the spectacle of an Integration cultivator refining one.
"Young Master, Integration Realm isn't strictly necessary for refining Bloodlines," Jin'er suddenly said softly.
"Huh?" Lan An was surprised. What did she mean?
"When the Lucky Shop reaches level three, there's a chance for a True-Grade Supreme item called Blood-Taming Liquid. It calms the violent energy in Bloodlines, allowing refinement at Void Refinement Realm…" Jin'er explained.
"Such a good thing?" Lan An's breathing quickened. With Blood-Taming Liquid, the Harem could grow stronger rapidly.
"Indeed, but Blood-Taming Liquid is extremely rare, with a pitiful appearance rate in the Shop, and its price is steep—one billion Prestige Points per drop. Plus, refining a Bloodline requires multiple drops, depending on the case…" Jin'er clarified.
"For example, how many drops for Yue Qi to refine the Golden Crow Blood?" Lan An asked.
"At Peak Void Refinement, Yue Qi needs only three drops of Blood-Taming Liquid…" Jin'er estimated.
Lan An nodded. Three drops meant three billion. If three billion Prestige Points let Yue Qi refine the Golden Crow Blood now, he'd pay without hesitation.
"For example, Shui Niang Qing, previously at Early Void Refinement, needed eight drops to refine the Water Qilin Blood—eight billion Prestige Points," Jin'er added.
Lan An inhaled sharply. That many Prestige Points could buy another Bloodline. Everything had its price.
"No need to worry, Young Master. Once the Lucky Shop upgrades, System Missions may offer Blood-Taming Liquid as rewards, no need to buy!" Jin'er reassured.
"How much more to upgrade the Shop?" Lan An rubbed his hands, determined.
Since the last upgrade, he'd spent countless Prestige Points, though he'd lost track of the total.
Upgrading the Lucky Shop to level three meant True-Grade items would appear, while Earth-Grade and below would be phased out, explaining the Blood-Taming Liquid's emergence.
Jin'er checked and answered,
"Forty-three billion!"