After purchasing the Three Spirits Fan for Qin Meng Ying, Lan An refreshed the Lucky Shop over ten times, securing a Low True-Grade Illusory Shadow Sword for Mu Zi Yin.
Jin'er explained that Low True-Grade treasures were sufficient for the women for a long time. Wielding and unleashing a True-Grade weapon's power wasn't easy, and using overly high-grade treasures prematurely could do more harm than good.
Lan An agreed. He still used the Jiao King Spear and Heavy Sword, both Spirit-Grade, which sufficed.
Flaunting True-Grade treasures could attract greedy old monsters, forcing Wu San Niang to intervene, wasting her time.
Qin Meng Ying, thrilled with her True-Grade treasure, smirked provocatively at Yan Yue Qi, thinking, Wait until I forge the Five Elements Saint Body—I'll show this woman!
Mu Zi Yin cherished the Illusory Shadow Sword like a treasure, burying her longing for the Purple Wood Sword deep in her heart.
The group left the Spirit Realm Pearl, reappearing on the Dream Immortal Boat.
"Brother Lan An, look at the scenery—we're nearing the edge of the Yellow Sand Continent…" Bai Lian Hua gazed at a massive river faintly visible in the distance, speaking softly.
The Yellow Sand Continent, over ninety percent desert with scorching heat, gave way to a river, signaling their departure from its borders.
Bai Lian Hua's eyes brimmed with anticipation. Raised in the desert, caged like a canary, she'd always yearned to escape that confinement.
Now, her dream was reality, thanks to him.
Compared to Bai Lian Hua, Hai Ling Long and Hai Yu Qing were no less moved. Standing by the boat's edge, gazing at the azure sky and vast terrain below, they felt like they were in a dream.
Having thought they'd spend their lives in a fish's belly, they now witnessed sunlight and landscapes beyond imagination.
Lan An understood them better than anyone, saying gently,
"I promised to show you the world's splendor, and I will!"
With the Harem's fearsome reputation on the Vietnam Dragon Star and Wu San Niang's backing, Lan An no longer hid Hai Ling Long and Hai Yu Qing, letting them appear openly as Merfolk. Anyone eyeing them would first test their own strength.
The two women smiled contentedly, nestling into his arms.
"Husband, per our route, crossing the Qing Hong River ahead will bring us to the Ice Heaven Continent," Yan Yue Qi said.
The Qing Hong River was the massive river before them, the boundary between the Ice Heaven Continent and Yellow Sand Continent.
"The Qing Hong River is fascinating!" The women, observing below, exclaimed with interest.
Due to the continents' differing climates, the river was split. The side bordering the Ice Heaven Continent had floating ice and frozen patches strong enough to walk on. The side near the Yellow Sand Continent boiled, steaming like a hot spring.
Seeing this for the first time, Lan An marveled at nature's wonders.
"Beyond the Qing Hong River lies the Mundane Hidden Temple's territory!" Qin Meng Ying snorted, her eyes flashing with killing intent.
Bai Suo Mai, stroking her snow-white hair, glanced at Lan An, seeking his opinion.
"Haha, let's pay some old friends a visit!" Lan An grinned, nodding.
He hadn't forgotten the Mundane Hidden Temple elder who threatened him at an auction, nor their pursuit of his Bai Suo Mai, nor their repeated attempts on his life.
To Lan An, there were only allies and enemies—no demons or Buddhas, all beings equal.
Repay kindness with kindness, grudges with vengeance.
At the continents' junction, countless cultivators and merchant caravans bustled, but all steered clear of the Dream Immortal Boat.
Crossing the Qing Hong River, Lan An shouted boldly,
"Ice Heaven Continent, I, Lan An, have returned!"
The women gazed at his back, momentarily dazed.
This young man, once lower than a servant in an Eighth-Grade force, humiliated beyond measure, now returned in glory. His feats shook the Cultivation World, a prodigy at Soul Transformation topping the Golden Ranking, unchallenged.
"Little An…" Liu Shi Qin's eyes reddened, pride mixed with bittersweetness swelling in her heart.
Others saw his brilliance, but who witnessed his suffering? Few would taste the bitter and sweet he endured.
Countless airborne cultivators, hearing his resounding voice, trembled, looking up. Seeing the Harem flag fluttering, their eyes blazed with fervor.
News of Lan An and the Harem's return to the Ice Heaven Continent spread like wildfire.
"Husband, that's the Mundane Hidden Temple ahead… but something's off!" Ji Ya frowned.
"Too desolate!" Ji Bing murmured.
In their view, grand, solemn structures nestled among towering mountains, serene and tranquil.
Atop a sky-piercing peak, three bold golden characters gleamed: Mundane Hidden Temple!
Yet, within its vast territory, not a single monk was present—an eerie anomaly.
"Could it be…" Yan Yue Qi's face darkened, realizing something.
"What is it, darling?" Lan An and the women looked over.
"The Lan Clan fled to another continent, fearing your revenge. The Mundane Hidden Temple might have done the same!" Yan Yue Qi said with a wry smile.
Having investigated the Lan Clan after Lan Qing Lie's escape, she knew they'd fled but hadn't paid much attention to the Mundane Hidden Temple.
"Hmph, how infuriating!"
Qin Meng Ying snorted angrily. Focused on teaching at the Holy Spirit Academy, she hadn't kept up with external news, unaware the monks had escaped.
Lan An paused, lowering the Dream Immortal Boat slightly.
He shot out, approaching a group of airborne cultivators below.
They scattered, wary of the Top 10 Golden Ranking figure, but Lan An used Swift Shift to detain a Mid Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Senior Lan… Senior Lan An!"
The middle-aged man, despite being an elder of a Fifth-Grade force, was deferential before Lan An, barely daring to breathe.
"Fellow Daoist, I have a question," Lan An said warmly, his status unknowingly elevated.
"Ask away, Senior! I'll answer fully if I know," the man said nervously, awed by Lan An's presence, not daring to glance at the women.
"Where did the Mundane Hidden Temple go?" Lan An asked.
"I don't know where, but over half a year ago, they gathered vast resources from their vassal forces and vanished overnight. Even my sect was extorted!"
The man answered honestly, grinding his teeth at the monks' plundering.
"Did they leave any branches or outposts?" Qin Meng Ying asked.
"None. They moved entirely. But I know they dismissed all disciples below Foundation Establishment, taking only those at Golden Core and above," the man recalled.
"Oh? How do you know?" Mu Zi Yin asked softly.
"Many disciples below Golden Core were sent home. It's common knowledge around here," he confirmed.
"The Mundane Hidden Temple fled decisively. Taking low-level disciples would be cumbersome, so dismissing them makes sense," Lan An nodded, agreeing.
"Husband, we could ask those dismissed disciples for clues!" Hai Ling Long said innocently.
"They wouldn't know anything significant. The Mundane Hidden Temple isn't that foolish," Hai Yu Qing chuckled, ruffling Hai Ling Long's hair fondly.
Hai Ling Long stuck out her tongue playfully, admitting her naivety.
Lan An smiled at their antics. No matter where the Mundane Hidden Temple or Lan Clan hid, they'd surface eventually. He wasn't in a rush.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist. Here's a token of appreciation," Lan An patted the man's shoulder, smiling.
"A gift? I dare not accept! Helping Young Master Lan is my honor," the man waved frantically, sincerely.
"No need for formalities. I don't need this," Lan An said lightly, producing a pair of blood-red boots radiating a commanding aura, sturdy and formidable.
Blood Battle Boots…
Unused since the Blood Battle Armor was destroyed.
"This… this is…" The man swallowed hard, never having seen a treasure so powerful.
"A Heaven-Grade treasure. If you don't need it, sell it at the Multi-Treasure Pavilion for a fair price," Lan An said, severing his bond with the Blood Battle Boots and handing them over.
Before the man could react, Lan An and the women returned to the Dream Immortal Boat.
"Thank you, Senior Lan! Thank you!" The man, storing the treasure, knelt, tears streaming in gratitude.
Answering a few questions earned him a Heaven-Grade treasure? A dream he never dared imagine.
Lan An's courtesy and respect, free of condescension, touched him deeply.
He vowed to become Lan An's loyal admirer, ready to oppose anyone slandering him.
Hurrying off to avoid prying eyes, the man didn't know Yan Yue Qi had sealed the surrounding space, ensuring no one would know of his treasure unless he boasted.
On the Dream Immortal Boat, Bai Suo Mai suddenly appeared midair, transforming into her colossal true form, blotting out the sun.
"The Mundane Hidden Temple has no need to exist!"
Her Seventh-Grade power surged, her massive snake tail smashing the temple's structures.
Boom boom boom…
The Mundane Hidden Temple's architecture was obliterated, not a stone left.
Venting her grudge, Bai Suo Mai returned to the boat's edge.
The women stared, shocked. Was this their gentle Bai Suo Mai?
Lan An laughed, hugging her slender waist, kissing her hair to comfort her.
"The Supreme White Devouring Star Snake isn't some benevolent race. She's only gentle with family!" Jin'er giggled.
Angering Bai Suo Mai came at a steep price.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a massive explosion shook the Qing Hong River's sky, startling Lan An and the women.
The Dream Immortal Boat paused midair.
Space collapsed, revealing two figures clashing ferociously, each move a life-or-death strike, flames engulfing the heavens, scorching thousands of miles. The Qing Hong River showed signs of drying under their heat.
An old man with rough skin, gray hair, and a hunched back battled a heroic middle-aged man with sharp features, red hair, and blazing red robes, as if he could burn the world.
Their flame mastery was impeccable, fire against fire, turning the sky into a crimson inferno, apocalyptic. Their Late Integration auras terrified all below.
"Late Integration battle!" Bai Suo Mai and Lan An exchanged glances, gasping in unison.
The women were stunned. Barely past the Qing Hong River, they witnessed two Late Integration cultivators fighting spectacularly.
Focusing closer, Lan An's eyes narrowed, blurting out,
"Great Elder of the Fire Underworld Sect—Huo Shan?"