One of the two Late Integration cultivators battling in the sky was the Great Elder of the Fire Underworld Sect—Huo Shan.
Lan An held a favorable impression of the old man. For a peak powerhouse to swallow his pride and beg for his grandson's life earned respect. But respect didn't mean Lan An would recklessly intervene to save Huo Shan, especially as the elder was clearly outmatched. The middle-aged man's strength surpassed Huo Shan's by a margin.
"Their skills and techniques are identical—they must be from the same force!" Yan Ruo Xue observed keenly.
The women nodded. Huo Shan and the middle-aged man knew each other's moves intimately, their powerful techniques mirroring one another. No one would believe they weren't from the same sect.
"Huo Shan is the Great Elder of the Fire Underworld Sect. Only the Sect Leader or someone of higher status could overpower him…" Lan An speculated, faintly guessing the cause of their conflict.
Not only the Harem but also many cultivators were drawn to the spectacle. Only Void Refinement experts dared watch closely—Soul Transformation cultivators risked being incinerated by the attacks' shockwaves.
Of course, the Harem was safe, protected by the Dream Immortal Boat.
Among the crowd, knowledgeable voices cried out:
"The Fire Underworld Sect's Great Elder Huo Shan is fighting Sect Leader Huo Wu Ya!"
"What? It's those two? Aren't they allies? Why such a fierce battle?"
"You're asking me? Who do I ask?"
"Quiet! The Harem is nearby!" One noticed the Dream Immortal Boat hovering, warning the others.
The crowd glanced over, spotting Lan An and his stunningly beautiful wives, like celestial maidens. The men's eyes filled with infatuation, then turned to burning jealousy, cursing Lan An's luck.
"Heavens, they have a Merfolk from legend!" One couldn't help shouting.
Hai Ling Long, yet to consummate with Lan An, still bore her pristine fish tail, gleaming under the sun. Her striking Western features made her the center of attention.
"So what if she's a Merfolk? She's with the Harem. Dare to make a move?" A clan ancestor snorted, scolding the fools.
The crowd deflated. Indeed, the Harem had just crushed the White Sand Dynasty. Even Integration experts hesitated to provoke them.
Hai Ling Long and Hai Yu Qing overheard the chatter, a sense of security warming their hearts as they gazed lovingly at Lan An.
This man ensured they could appear openly.
Lan An smiled back, but a sudden sound interrupted.
Keng! Branch mission activated: "Materials." Success rewards three drops of Warm Blood Serum. No penalty for failure!
The System's mechanical voice startled Lan An. A mission now, with three drops of Warm Blood Serum as a reward—equivalent to 3 billion Reputation Points, a treasure money couldn't buy? With no failure penalty, he could choose whether to pursue it.
Curious, he checked the mission details.
Mission Note: Find a way to obtain the Fire Spirit Grass from Huo Shan to gather materials for refining Five Spirit Pills.
Lan An's eyes flickered. Huo Shan had the Fire Spirit Grass—just what he needed.
He wouldn't let this chance slip, transmitting to his wives,
"Huo Shan has the Fire Spirit Grass. Let's find a way to capture him!"
Qin Meng Ying's face lit up. Her craving for the Five Elements Saint Body was driving her mad. Gathering materials for the Five Spirit Pills was perfect.
"Observe the situation first and strike at the right moment!" Yan Yue Qi said softly.
Bai Suo Mai and Yan Ruo Xue nodded seriously. Only they could intervene in this battle.
But a sudden voice made their expressions turn odd:
"This time, Ming Yue wants to fight! No objections!"
Kun Ming Yue licked her crimson lips excitedly, her eyes blazing with fervor, a long-dormant thrill surging within her.
Lan An opened his mouth to refuse, but Dan Meng Ji's clear voice emerged:
"Letting Ming Yue fight might be good. It could awaken some of her past instincts through combat, aiding her recovery later, though the chance is slim…"
"She could get hurt…" Lan An said, worried.
Since when had Kun Ming Yue become so important to him?
"A Seventh-Grade beast's defense is formidable, and you're all here to support her," Dan Meng Ji said casually.
Reluctantly, Lan An agreed, gripping Kun Ming Yue's delicate hand tightly, saying sternly,
"Wait for my signal to jump in, got it?"
"Mm!" Kun Ming Yue nodded eagerly. As long as she could fight, she'd obey anything.
…
"Huo Shan, surrender and return to face your punishment!" Huo Wu Ya roared, his palm shattering space.
"Hmph, punish me? Fine. But why drag Li'er into this? What's his crime?" Huo Shan bellowed, seething.
"Huo Li is useless, failing to capture the Poison Man. You gave away the Great Force Earth Flame and Underworld Fire Annihilating Mountains for him? Those are the sect's treasures! You and your grandson are eternal sinners. I'm lenient, only imprisoning you for life, yet you resist?" Huo Wu Ya retorted, voice full of righteousness, continuing,
"You even demanded the Fire Underworld Sect stop hunting the Poison Man and resolve our grudge? Laughable! A coward and weakling doesn't deserve to be Great Elder!"
"Bullshit! If your wretched son hadn't lusted after the Poison Man and acted recklessly, none of this would've happened. The innocent people of Spirit Fire City wouldn't have died unjustly!" Huo Shan roared, losing all reason.
"All this stems from your son. You, Huo Wu Ya, blindly shield his faults. The Fire Underworld Sect, built by our ancestors, will fall under your hands!"
Huo Wu Ya's face darkened. He knew Huo Shan spoke truth, but his son died in the Poison Man's toxic gas. That grudge demanded vengeance.
Within the Fire Underworld Sect, Huo Shan had always opposed him. Huo Wu Ya saw this as a chance to eliminate him, consolidating his authority before dealing with the Poison Man. A Mid Integration cultivator, she'd be easy prey for him, perfect to offer to the Dan Clan's ancestor for alchemy—a win-win.
His face turned ruthless, roaring,
"Huo Shan, your stubbornness leaves me no choice!"
As his shout faded, a domineering flame erupted, the heat skyrocketing a thousandfold.
Buzz buzz…
Lan An's Flame Heart Cauldron trembled, sensing a kindred presence.
"A Variant Flame!" Yan Yue Qi and the women said gravely.
The Fire Underworld Sect's leader indeed wielded a Variant Flame. Including the Great Force Earth Flame, the sect possessed two. No wonder their techniques allowed wielding multiple flames.
Around Huo Wu Ya, white flames roared, blanketing the sky, laced with crackling white lightning, their might earth-shaking, rivaling the Thunder Flame Mysterious Art.
"Raging Thunder Rigid Flame!?"
Qin Meng Ying and the women recognized it, speaking solemnly.
Raging Thunder Rigid Flame, a white flame fused with rigid lightning, bizarrely enhancing Fire attacks manifold.
Ranked 13th on the Variant Flame List.
Rumors claimed the Thunder Flame Mysterious Art was inspired by it, though unproven, as the Evil Emperor never confirmed. The Thunder Flame Mysterious Art fused Thunder and Fire manually, separable at will, while Raging Thunder Rigid Flame was an inseparable whole.
Essentially, it was still a flame. Huo Wu Ya couldn't use it for Thunder skills, but its dominance was undeniable, lightning roaring, flames flooding, forcing Huo Shan back, his face pale.
Huo Shan's strength was close to Huo Wu Ya's, but the Variant Flame tipped the scales, leaving him at a disadvantage.
"Underworld Fire Piercing Heart Palm!" Huo Shan gritted his teeth, channeling Fire spiritual energy into his palms.
Two fierce palm imprints roared toward Huo Wu Ya's heart.
"Foolish! With my Variant Flame, you're dead!" Huo Wu Ya sneered, mirroring Huo Shan's move with identical palm strikes.
Four palm imprints from Integration cultivators sent the Qing Hong River steaming, space collapsing, countless aquatic lives perishing.
Boom boom…
Palms clashed. Huo Wu Ya's imprints, powered by Raging Thunder Rigid Flame, crushed Huo Shan's.
The flame's ferocity shattered ordinary fire.
Pfft…
Huo Shan took the hit, his chest seemingly pierced, organs burning, spitting blood, his aged face deathly pale.
"Underworld Fire Annihilating Mountains!"
Huo Wu Ya pressed his advantage, unleashing the sect's strongest skill.
Raising his arms, Raging Thunder Rigid Flame condensed into a terrifying fireball, aiming to kill Huo Shan.
Huo Shan, ashen, struggled to stand, attempting to tear space and flee, knowing death awaited otherwise.
Ugh…
A withered, flame-wreathed hand emerged from space, striking his chest, sending him flying dozens of meters.
"Great Elder, accept your fate!"
A Mid Integration old man stepped out—the one who ambushed Huo Shan.
"Huo Di, you sneak attacked me…" Huo Shan growled, glaring.
Huo Di, the Second Elder of the Fire Underworld Sect, had long coveted Huo Shan's position.
"You lost the Great Force Earth Flame, let our sect's skill leak, and opposed the Sect Leader. Your crimes warrant death!" Huo Di said leisurely, his murky eyes mocking.
"Damn you! Dying by your hands, I'm unwilling… Huo Wu Ya, your tyranny and favoritism will provoke a terrifying existence, and the Fire Underworld Sect will fall!" Huo Shan collapsed, his injuries too severe.
The crowd sighed. Many knew of the Sea Continent incident. Huo Shan's desperation to save his grandson was understandable, yet now he was branded a traitor.
"Die, Underworld Fire Annihilating Mountains!"
Huo Wu Ya laughed triumphantly. Huo Di was his hidden ambush, and he reveled in his success. The fireball spun, descending to obliterate Huo Shan.
Huo Di tore space to escape, avoiding the fallout.
Huo Shan, exhausted, closed his eyes, awaiting death.
The fireball roared down…
On the Dream Immortal Boat, Lan An said sternly,
"Ming Yue, go!"