Zhang Tian's face was a mask of calm, but his mind was a raging, chaotic sea of new, profound, and world-shattering ideas. He had seen a glimpse of the true power that lay hidden in the world, and it had ignited a new, more dangerous ambition within him. But he knew, with a certainty that was as cold and as hard as the obsidian rock beneath his feet, that he could not reveal this truth. Not yet. To tell them of the three kings would only create a panic, a fear that would be a liability in this dangerous, volatile land.
He turned to his companions, his expression now one of calm, practical authority. "The immediate threat has passed," he announced, his voice a steady, grounding force in the tense silence. "But we cannot linger here. This place is not safe. We will gather what we can and find a more secluded place to rest."
He looked down into the basin, at the twenty-three massive, cooling corpses of the spirit beasts that the two Super Douluos had slaughtered in their arrogant, brutal hunt. "Their bodies are a treasure trove of resources. The blood, the meat, the bones… they are all suffused with a potent lightning energy. We will not let them go to waste."
As the others, their own practicality reasserting itself, began to make their way down into the basin to begin the grim, but necessary, task of harvesting the corpses, Zhang Tian paused. He knelt, placing his palm flat against the black, ozone-scorched rock.
The entire basin, the site of the great battle, was already a silent, invisible carpet of his Blood Silver Grass. He closed his eyes and pushed. His spirit power, amplified by his new, thirty-three-thousand-year-old ring, flowed into the earth. The grass began to spread, a silent, crimson tide that flowed outwards from the basin, creeping up the canyon walls, seeding the dark, wet rock, turning this entire, hostile region into an extension of his own senses.
It would take days, perhaps even a full week, but he knew, with an absolute certainty, that this entire, storm-wracked hellscape, this Dragoncry Thunder Canyon, would soon become another province in his ever-expanding, silent empire.
Finding a new hideout was a simple matter. With his domain spreading, he could now sense every cave, every crevice, every hidden corner of the canyon. He found the perfect spot: a large, deep, and completely unoccupied cave system, miles away from the site of the battle, its entrance hidden behind a curtain of shattered, lightning-blasted rock.
That evening, the cave, which had been a cold, dark, and empty space just hours before, was transformed into a warm, inviting, and surprisingly comfortable camp.
The harvested spirit beast meat was carefully stored in high-level storage tools, a resource that would feed them for weeks. Tents had been erected in the private chambers that She Long had carved from the stone. A large, crackling fire in the center of the main cavern cast a warm, dancing glow on the weary faces of the hunting party.
Zhang Tian sat by the fire, the pulsing, left leg spirit bone of the Thunder Hell Prison Vine resting in his lap. 'I should absorb this now,' he thought. 'And consolidate my new power. The jump to Spirit King… it will be a significant one.'
It was then that Ah Yin, in her perfect, humble maid's disguise, approached him.
"Zhang Tian," she said, her voice the soft, respectful murmur she used in front of the others. "You have been through a great ordeal today. And you must be exhausted from the long, difficult battle. Perhaps you should rest for tonight. We can have a proper victory feast to celebrate the acquisition of your new spirit ring. And tomorrow, when you are fully rested and your mind is clear, you can begin the absorption of the spirit bone."
He looked up at her, at the genuine, if slightly feigned, concern in her beautiful crimson eyes. He knew her true motive, of course. He had been a part of the secret, whispered conversation she had had with Liu Erlong just last night. But her suggestion was a sound one. A celebration was in order.
"You are right, Ah Yin," he said with a warm smile. "A feast sounds like an excellent idea."
A wave of happy, relieved cheers went through the rest of the group. Ning Rongrong, who had been dreading another night of cold, dry rations, practically bounced on her feet. Even the two stoic Titled Douluos, She Long and Ci Xue, allowed a faint, appreciative grunt to escape their lips.
Ah Yin moved to the cooking fire with a quiet, efficient grace. The corpse of a sixty-thousand-year-old Volt-Fang Tiger, one of the prizes from the Super Douluos' hunt, was her canvas. Her hands moved with a blur of motion, her knife a silver flash as she expertly butchered the massive beast, her skill that of a master chef.
She marinated the thick, succulent cuts of meat in a mixture of rare, fragrant herbs and spices she produced from her own, private storage ring. The aroma that began to fill the cavern was not just delicious; it was intoxicating, a scent that seemed to promise a world of culinary bliss.
No one noticed the final, almost imperceptible dusting of a fine, colorless powder she sprinkled over the portions destined for Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Qian Renxue, and the two Titled Douluos.
It was a powerful, tasteless sleeping elixir, a creation born from the fusion of the Breaking Clan's alchemy and the immortal herbs of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. It was a poison so subtle, so potent, that it could put even a Titled Douluo into a deep, dreamless sleep for a full day.
The feast was a magnificent, joyous affair. They ate and drank, their conversation filled with the excited, triumphant energy of victors. And then, one by one, they began to feel it.
A deep, profound, and utterly irresistible wave of sleepiness.
She Long was the first to go. He was in the middle of a boisterous story about one of his old battles, and his head simply drooped, his snores a low, rumbling thunder that echoed in the quiet cavern.
Ci Xue followed a moment later, slumping against the cavern wall, a half-eaten piece of roasted meat still clutched in his hand.
The reason the two Titled Douluo fell asleep first was because of the large dose of that sleeping sedative in their food.
Qian Renxue's royal composure held for a few moments longer. She frowned, a look of profound confusion on her beautiful face. "I feel… strangely tired…" she murmured, her words slurring slightly. And then, her violet eyes fluttered closed, and she slumped forward, her head resting on the table, a beautiful, sleeping goddess.
Ning Rongrong, who had been laughing at one of Zhang Tian's jokes, simply let out a soft, sleepy sigh and curled up on the fur blanket beside him, fast asleep.
The cavern fell silent.
Zhu Zhuqing looked around, her dark eyes wide with a mixture of shock and a dawning, sharp suspicion. She looked at the sleeping forms of her companions, then at Zhang Tian, who was staring at the scene with a look of perfect, feigned surprise. And then, her gaze settled on the two women who were still awake.
Ah Yin, who was calmly sipping her tea, her expression serene.
And Liu Erlong, who was looking at Zhang Tian with a hungry, possessive, and utterly undisguised lust in her fiery eyes.
Ah Yin, seeing the look on Zhu Zhuqing's face, felt a flicker of internal panic.
'Damn it!' her mind cursed. 'I forgot! The immortal herbs… the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well… of course she would be immune to a simple sleeping poison! This complicates things. But…'
Her gaze shifted to Zhang Tian, to her magnificent, powerful Emperor. The thought of losing this perfect, God-sent opportunity to have him, all of him, all to herself and her new co-conspirator in this place, was a thought she could not bear.
She made her decision in an instant. Consequences be damned.
She stood up and walked to Zhang Tian. She did not speak. She did not hesitate. She simply leaned down and captured his lips in a deep, searing, and utterly possessive kiss.
Zhu Zhuqing's world tilted on its axis. She just stared, her mind a blank, white haze of pure, unadulterated shock. The woman who had been their maid, their secret guardian… was kissing her husband. And not a simple, chaste kiss. It was a kiss of raw, unrestrained passion.
When the kiss finally ended, leaving a stunned, blushing Zhang Tian in its wake, he turned his gaze to Zhu Zhuqing. He saw the look on her face, and a wave of guilt washed over him.
"Zhuqing," he began, his voice a low, apologetic murmur. "I… I can explain. Ah Yin… she is my woman. My Empress. Just like you and Rongrong are."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression, which had been one of blank shock, slowly hardened. A deep frown marred her beautiful features. She stood up and walked towards him.
And then, she smacked him.
It was not a hard smack. It was a soft, almost playful tap on the side of his head. But the message was clear.
"You idiot," she whispered, her voice a mixture of exasperation and a deep, underlying affection. She looked at him, and her eyes were not filled with jealousy, but with a hurt, questioning look.
"I always knew," she said, her voice a low, intimate murmur that was meant only for him. "Not everything, of course. But I saw the way you looked at her. The way she looked at you. I'm not a fool, Zhang Tian. Why didn't you just tell me? Did you not trust me to keep your secret? Have I not kept so many of your other secrets from Rongrong?"
He felt another wave of guilt, deeper this time. He pulled her into a tight, apologetic hug. "I'm sorry, Zhuqing," he whispered against her hair. "You are right. It was… it was my arrogance. I thought… I thought I could keep it hidden. That I could maintain this… this perfect, separate world. I was a fool."
She just melted against him, her own arms wrapping around his waist. She leaned in and pressed a soft, forgiving kiss to his neck. "Unlike Rongrong," she whispered, her voice a promise, "I will never be angry with you for having other women. As long as I have a place in your heart, that is all that matters. But… you were unfair to her. To Sister Ah Yin. To make her hide, to make her pretend to be a servant… it was cruel."
She then pulled back and turned to Ah Yin, who had been watching their intimate exchange with a raised, amused eyebrow. Zhu Zhuqing performed a deep, respectful bow. "I am sorry, Sister Ah Yin," she said, her voice sincere. "If Rongrong or I ever treated you with disrespect, I hope you can forgive us."
Ah Yin let out a soft, musical laugh, a sound of pure, regal amusement. She walked over and gently lifted Zhuqing's bowed head. "My dear little sister," she said, her voice warm and genuine. "You have never treated me with anything but kindness. There is nothing to forgive."
As the two women shared a moment of newfound, sisterly understanding, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze shifted, landing on the final, silent member of their strange, waking party. She looked at Liu Erlong, who had been watching the entire scene with a quiet, unreadable expression.
"And her?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, her voice a low, questioning sound directed at Zhang Tian. "Is she a part of your… harem as well?"
Liu Erlong's body went rigid. She looked at Zhang Tian, her heart a frantic, terrified drum against her ribs, waiting for his judgment.
He looked at her, his expression a cool, clinical assessment. "Liu Erlong…" he began, his voice a slow, deliberate sound. "Hmm. She is obedient enough. And she is a good fuck. And a useful tool to cause a great deal of mental pain to that fool, Yu Xiaogang. But for now… she is just a whore."
He paused, a flicker of something, a hint of a cold, amused pity, in his eyes. He then turned back to Zhu Zhuqing, reaching out to gently caress her head. "As long as she does not betray me," he added, his voice a low, final, and non-negotiable command, "I will not throw her away. I will continue to use her body."
The words, so cruel, so demeaning, should have been a dagger in Liu Erlong's heart. But she did not feel pain. She felt… relief. A profound, overwhelming, and almost pathologically joyful relief. He was not throwing her away. He would continue to use her. To a woman whose mind had been so thoroughly broken by her former lover, this was a promise. This was a gift.
Zhu Zhuqing just nodded, her expression serious. She did not care about this other woman, this whore. Her only concern was her own place, and now Sister Ah Yin's, in her husband's heart.
She then turned to Ah Yin, a mischievous, conspiratorial glint in her dark eyes. "Well, Sister Ah Yin," she said, her voice a low, purring sound. "You should continue with what you were about to do with our husband. I will go and sleep now. I do not wish to disturb you."
Ah Yin just laughed, a deep, throaty sound of pure, unadulterated amusement. She walked over and took Zhu Zhuqing's hand. "Disturb us? My dear little sister, you misunderstand. My original plan was for myself and our new little pet to finally, finally, defeat our Emperor's insatiable stamina. But now that you are awake… now that you have joined our side… I believe we finally have a chance of truly conquering him. Tonight."
She looked at Zhu Zhuqing, her crimson eyes gleaming with a predatory, sisterly fire. "Won't you join us?"
The invitation, the sheer, brazen audacity of it, sent a thrill of pure, delicious excitement through Zhu Zhuqing. She looked at Zhang Tian, at the slow, predatory grin that was spreading across his face, and she knew. Tonight was going to be a night of legend.
Ah Yin did not wait for an answer. She raised a hand. "Vine Constructs."
A massive, opulent tent of interwoven crimson vines erupted from the stone floor of the cavern, a beautiful, living boudoir that sealed them off from the sleeping world outside.
She then turned to Zhang Tian, a wicked, hungry fire in her crimson eyes. And she began to tear his clothes from his body.
The night that followed was a storm. A beautiful, chaotic, and hedonistic symphony of three powerful, insatiable women and one tireless, insatiable Emperor.
Ah Yin was a goddess of mature, seductive passion. Zhu Zhuqing was a creature of wild, untamed lust. And Liu Erlong… Liu Erlong was a slave to her own, new, and terrifyingly liberating desires.
They took him again and again, in every position imaginable. He fucked Ah Yin in a slow, deep, and profoundly intimate missionary position and many other intimate positions, his hands buried in her magnificent, heavy breasts. He had Zhu Zhuqing on her hands and knees, her magnificent, curvaceous ass presented to him as he took her from behind in an intimate position like the spooning position while hugging her tightly and then enjoying her body with many other intimate positions, his hand tangling in her long, dark hair.
And with Liu Erlong… with Liu Erlong, he unleashed a new, darker side of himself. He was not a lover. He was a master. A sadist.
He fucked her with a raw, animalistic fury, his thrusts deep and punishing, his hands leaving red marks on her magnificent ass.
He did not care for her pleasure, for her moans. He cared only for his own, and she, in her broken, beautiful submission, loved him for it.
The night bled into the next day, and still, they did not stop. They were a tangle of naked limbs, of slick skin, of shared, unrestrained moans. They came, and they came, and they came, their combined orgasms a testament to a passion that defied all mortal limits. Zhang Tian lost count of the times he came inside their pussies, on their bodies, in their mouths.
Finally, as the sun of the next day was beginning to set, they collapsed.
The three women lay in a heap on the massive bed of fur blankets within the crimson tent, their bodies a beautiful, chaotic canvas of their lovemaking. They were utterly, completely, and blissfully spent. They had given him everything. And he had taken it.
And he… he was still standing. Barely.
He looked down at the three magnificent, voluptuous women who were his while his body was a canvas of glorious aches and blissful soreness. A deep, profound, and utterly triumphant satisfaction filled him.
He had won.
He dressed in a fresh set of robes and then, without a backward glance, he walked out of the tent and into the main cavern. He sat down before the still-glowing embers of the fire and began to meditate, the process of consolidating his new, immense power a welcome, peaceful respite after the beautiful, chaotic storm of their passion.
An hour later, the three women emerged from the tent. They were dressed in fresh, clean clothes, their faces scrubbed clean, though a deep, satisfied weariness still clung to them like a second skin.
Ah Yin moved to Zhu Zhuqing and Liu Erlong, her hands glowing with a soft, gentle, and crimson light. She healed their sore, over-used bodies, her touch a warm, soothing balm.
Zhu Zhuqing then stood, her body buzzing with a new, restless energy. She looked at Ah Yin, then at Liu Erlong. "I do not wish to be idle," she said, her voice a low, firm sound. "Come. Let's go and train. I wish to test my new power against the beasts of this canyon."
The three women walked out of the cavern and into the storm-wracked hellscape of the Dragoncry Thunder Canyon. Ah Yin created her protective bubble, and they moved through the desolate landscape, a small, untouchable island of feminine power.
Zhu Zhuqing did not seek out the weakest beasts. She found a pack of fifteen-thousand-year-old Lightning-Clawed Raptors, their bodies a blur of motion, their claws crackling with electrical energy.
And she fought them. Alone. It was a brutal, beautiful dance of death. Her four Abyssal Clones were a whirlwind of darkness, fire, and ice, their attacks a seamless, deadly symphony of misdirection and assault.
She did not kill them. She fought them until they were exhausted, until their pride was broken. And then, she would move on, a silent, deadly predator seeking her next challenge, her skills being honed to a razor's edge in the crucible of real, life-or-death combat.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Douluo Dalu: Time Travel", "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon