Heavenly Mechanism Island
In the meeting hall of the Heavenly Mechanism Temple, the Temple Master, clad in a pitch-black robe that hid his depths, swept his gaze over the assembly, speaking calmly,
"What are your thoughts on the changes to the new Golden List?"
Seated below were the seven remaining elders of the Temple, each a dual cultivator of Soul and Spirit, their strength formidable.
"Unimaginable. The Harem has grown too fast… or rather, it was hidden too well…" The First Elder stroked his silver beard, his voice trembling.
The other elders stayed silent, clearly shaken by the Harem's emergence.
"Hmph, he's the Son of Heaven's Will. It's only natural the heavens favor his Harem force. Didn't you see he even possesses a Divine Beast?"
An elder snorted, spittle flying, continuing, "From the start, we knew Lan An was the Son of Heaven's Will. I urged you all to build ties with him, yet you've delayed until now…"
This was Ji Kha, the Second Elder, who attended the Elf Queen's birthday, convinced of Lan An's divine destiny.
"I agree with the Second Elder. Lan An hasn't fully matured—now's the chance to connect. As the saying goes, send charcoal in snowy weather. We might gain great opportunities later!" An elderly woman spoke, the new Third Elder after Ji Bing and Ji Ya's master died.
The others nodded, except the First Elder, whose expression flickered. His Integration Realm aura wavered, clearly weighing something.
"Hmph, I know what you're thinking. Is it about Ji Bing and Ji Ya?" Ji Kha sneered at the First Elder.
"Who are you questioning? Know your place!" The First Elder barked, his strength a tier above Ji Kha's.
"Place, my foot! Your precious son Ji Shao Huang's shameless actions against Ji Bing and Ji Ya right after the Third Elder's death—now they're tied to the Son of Heaven's Will. How will you handle that?" Ji Kha laughed coldly, fearless.
He'd long disapproved of Ji Shao Huang's arrogance.
"You…" The First Elder fumed, grinding his teeth, "Why didn't you old fools stop him then? Now you dare bring it up?"
"Haha, with your doting nature, could we have stopped him? Don't forget, besides being the Son of Heaven's Will, Lan An is Wu San Niang's disciple. If she comes knocking, you're in for trouble!" Ji Kha mocked.
The First Elder fell silent, truly wary of Wu San Niang.
"Enough. The matter of Ji Bing and Ji Ya ends here," the Temple Master, silent until now, spoke abruptly, then added sternly,
"As for Ji Shao Huang's conflict with them, he must resolve it with the Harem himself. No one from the Heavenly Mechanism Temple may interfere. His fate is his own!"
"Temple Master!" The First Elder paled. Ji Shao Huang was his son—how could he face the blazing Harem alone?
"My decision is final. Everyone must bear the consequences of their actions, and he's no exception!"
The Temple Master waved his sleeve, his figure dissolving into nothingness.
The elders exchanged glances, sighing at the First Elder. His overindulgence of his son, whose twisted hobby of collecting twin sisters as playthings was well-known, had led him to kick an iron plate.
With the Temple Master's order, none dared help.
Ji Kha smirked at the First Elder, hoping he wouldn't do anything foolish.
Seven Kills Sect's Secret Realm
In a clandestine space, isolated from the outside world, accessible only by teleportation array—the stronghold of the infamous Seven Kills Sect—nine stone pillars pierced the clouds, forming a circle. Nine figures stood silently atop them, their auras undetectable, blending with the space itself.
The Nine Heavenly Assassins, the sect's strongest killers, the weakest at Peak Void Refinement. Among them was the Rank 2 Golden List prodigy.
"If the Dark Origin side still wants Lan An's head, they must raise the price!" A Heavenly Assassin rasped. The old fee was too low for such a target.
"How much is enough?"
"Three million Supreme Spirit Stones!"
Silence fell, broken only by heavy breathing.
Hundred Flowers Sect, Main Hall
Su Yan, after watching the Harem's performance, sat silent for half a day, her gaze distant, lost in thought.
Below, mature beauties exchanged complex looks, disbelief in their eyes.
"Is… is that really Xue'er?"
A noble woman with an elegant bun stared at Yan Ruo Xue's terrifying display, her red lips trembling. This was Yan Ruo Lan, Second Elder of the Hundred Flowers Sect, Yan Ruo Xue's master, who raised the orphan as her own daughter and knew her gentle nature.
Yet now, Yan Ruo Xue was domineering, chasing legendary Integration Realm experts like dogs, leaving Yan Ruo Lan both overjoyed and in disbelief.
Another beauty, eyes sparkling with pride and a hint of smugness, said, "My Yu Feng became a Sixth-Grade Array Master. Following the Sect Master's little junior brother was the right choice!"
This was Hua Yu Lan, Hua Yu Feng's master.
The other women smiled wryly. They only regretted their disciples lacked the fortune to know the Golden List Top 10 prodigy.
The sect's elders, all at Peak Spirit Transformation, paled in comparison to the Harem.
Su Yan, hearing their chatter, her ancient-well eyes filled with complexity, thought of Su Mi's radiant beauty, murmuring,
"That girl followed him too. When she returns… will she surpass me?"
Su Yan treated Su Mi like a daughter. If Su Mi outshone her, she wasn't sure how she'd feel.
All because of one man.
Su Yan ranked 26 on the Golden List, one below Hua Yu Feng. In her battle with Bing Chang Kong, her support abilities shone, but support wasn't valued as highly as combat, so the elders ranked her there. She hadn't fought all-out—her beauty left her with few enemies, rarely needing to act.
"Sect Master, I believe Lan An's past proposal could be approved. We shouldn't cling to outdated traditions. We must look to the Hundred Flowers Sect's future!" Hua Yu Lan, gazing at Hua Yu Feng in the Shadow Recording Jade, stood and addressed Su Yan.
"Huh? What proposal?" Su Yan, still dazed, didn't react immediately.
The elders exchanged glances, as if pre-agreed, saying in unison,
"The proposal that Saintesses, even if married, can inherit the Sect Master position, and Sect Masters can love and marry!"
Su Yan started, then sighed. When Lan An's strength wasn't yet evident, she'd relayed his proposal, only for the elders to brush it off. Now, they'd done a 180, bringing it up themselves. Such is the way of the world.
"Have you all thought it through?" Su Yan's gaze swept over them.
"Yes, for the sect's future, outdated rules must change!" Yan Ruo Lan spoke for them.
"If all elders agree, this Sect Master won't object!" Su Yan nodded lightly, but inwardly added,
By accepting his proposal, you're indirectly endorsing my marriage to that scoundrel…
Holy Spirit Academy
Wu San Niang lounged on her dragon throne, lazily eyeing the old men below.
"Headmaster, it's miraculous! You're incredible, boosting the Harem's strength so rapidly!" The Chief Elder laughed heartily, his face flushed with excitement.
Most Harem members were Holy Spirit Academy students, now shining across the Star.
The elders looked at Wu San Niang with envy. They hadn't expected their Headmaster to hide such depths, elevating a group so quickly, likely due to some heaven-defying opportunity.
"Don't look at me like that. This has nothing to do with me!" Their fervent gazes gave her goosebumps, and she snapped.
"Heh, don't jest. Lan An said you secretly trained those girls!" The elders smirked, unconvinced, crediting her entirely.
Wu San Niang's mouth twitched. Lan An had used her as a shield to keep his wives from being poached by these old men. Now, this mess.
She was dying to know how he'd done it.
"Heh, if you could boost all our students like the Harem, those other academies wouldn't dare act smug!" The First Elder rubbed his hands, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The others nodded eagerly.
"Do you think I'm a god?" Wu San Niang was speechless. These old fools.
"You are a god!" The elders said earnestly.
"Pah!" Wu San Niang slammed the table, startling them.
Her voice dropped, as if revealing a world-shaking secret, "I'll tell you a secret. Keep it quiet!"
The elders held their breath, not daring to exhale.
"I'm not Lan An's only master. Before me, he had a Great Master…" Wu San Niang whispered.
"You mean…?" The elders jolted.
"Exactly. The Harem's rise is likely due to his Great Master's vast powers, not me…" Wu San Niang said firmly.
No choice—she had to use Lan An's mysterious master as a shield against these clingy elders.
"Headmaster, who is his Great Master?" The Chief Elder's curiosity burned, eager to meet such a figure.
"Sadly, even I don't know…" Wu San Niang shook her head, pointing upward, "I guess… up there!"
"Up there?"
The elders shuddered. It made sense.
Exchanging glances, they saw resolve in each other's eyes—to wholeheartedly curry favor with Lan An henceforth.
Dark Origin Continent – Fox Clan
"Is it really him? I've been left so far behind…"
A captivating figure sat by a stream, her bare, exquisite feet dipping into the water, three soft tails swaying adorably. Her face was a painting, amber eyes misty with charm, a delicate nose, ruby lips, and a mole at the corner enhancing her allure.
A blend of seduction and cuteness, endlessly enchanting.
This was Hu Yu Yan, third on the Heavenly Monster List, now at Peak Fifth-Grade, her true form a Three-Tailed Demon Fox.
Holding the new Golden List, she gazed at the name in the Top 10, her eyes dreamy, recalling his heroic figure from that day.
He'd surpassed her so far.
"I won't lose!" Hu Yu Yan murmured determinedly, unaware that nearby…
A seductive figure with six pink tails swaying stood atop a peach-blossom-covered peak, her beauty enough to drive all males mad, lost in memories.
Her eyes held boundless anger, humiliation, and a trace of a maiden's shyness—complex beyond measure.
That wretched man—she'd recognize him even as ashes.
He'd progressed so fast, with a force of stunning women.
"Hmph, don't let me see you again…"
Her fragrant lips let out a resentful yet coy murmur, carried away by the wind.
Ancient Unknown Relic
An elderly couple studied the new Golden List.
Their cloudy eyes held no excitement, no shock, no admiration—only heavy worry.
"A golden era has arrived, geniuses and prodigies emerging in droves…" The old woman sighed, muttering.
"Is the Empty Era approaching?" The old man's voice trembled, as if to himself.
"Let's hope we're wrong…"
They exchanged glances, their sighs drifting into the air.