The subterranean dungeon beneath the sprawling mansion was entirely bathed in the pulsating, bloody twilight of the Blood Silver Grass. The silence in the room had been violently shattered by the agonizing, hysterical sobs of the captive rabbit girl. Her world had been entirely uprooted, leaving her a hollow shell kneeling upon the cold stone floor.
Zhang Tian stood over her, his large hand firmly gripping her delicate chin. His icy blue eyes were completely devoid of empathy, reflecting only a dark, victorious amusement. He leaned down, his mouth crashing against hers in a harsh, dominating kiss. He forced his tongue past her trembling, parted lips, invading her oral cavity with the absolute authority of a conqueror claiming his spoils. He tasted the bitter salt of her endless tears and the faint, sweet essence of her breath. He explored every inch of her mouth, ravaging her senses while his free hand continued to mercilessly knead her exposed, modest breasts, pinching the stiff pink nipples until she let out confused, breathless whimpers.
For several long, agonizing minutes, he simply enjoyed the taste of her despair. When he finally pulled back, a thin string of transparent saliva connected their lips before snapping. Xiao Wu gasped for air, her chest heaving, her pink eyes glazed over and entirely unfocused.
Zhang Tian leaned his head down, his lips brushing against the soft shell of her long, white rabbit ear.
"I will kill Tang San, sooner or later," Zhang Tian whispered. His voice was a low, chilling promise that vibrated directly into her auditory canal. "I will shatter his precious hammer into a million useless pieces, and I will tear the spirit rings of your brothers from his bleeding corpse. Consider it my personal revenge for your foolish beast friends, who were so easily manipulated and fooled by a hypocritical human."
Xiao Wu shattered violently against his chest.
"Even if you do not want me to kill him," Zhang Tian added, a cruel smirk touching his lips as he felt her slender body tense. "I will do it anyway. Because those two ancient spirit beasts were truly pathetic and foolish to have sacrificed themselves for a parasite like Tang San. They threw away hundreds of thousands of years of life just to act as stepping stones."
He released her chin, letting her head drop forward. Xiao Wu stared blankly at the stone floor, her mind a chaotic, spinning vortex of absolute confusion and profound grief.
'Why?' Xiao Wu thought, her internal voice a frantic, desperate scream echoing in the void of her shattered heart. 'Why did Da Ming and Er Ming do it? They are the absolute lords of the forest. They hate humans. Why would they willingly give their lives, their spirit rings, and their spirit bones to Third Brother?'
She squeezed her eyes shut, fresh tears spilling over her lashes. She knew that Tang San must have been the one who had convinced them to sacrifice themselves for him. Her brothers were straightforward and fiercely protective; they would never have offered their lives unless they were manipulated into believing it was the only option.
'He must have discovered their relationship with me,' Xiao Wu deduced, her mind struggling to comprehend the depth of the betrayal. 'Third Brother must have found out that we are a family of spirit beasts. But... so what? If he knew they were my family, why did he still do this? Why did he ask them to die? Did he ever truly love me, or did he just see me and my brothers as a walking treasure trove of spirit rings and spirit bones waiting to be harvested?'
The agony of the betrayal was a physical ache in her chest. She desperately wanted to question her Third Brother. She wanted to stand before him, look into his eyes, and demand to know how he could slaughter her family in the name of love. Yet, despite the horrifying revelation, the deep-seated affection she had nurtured for years acted as a stubborn, blinding chain. She still did not possess genuine killing intent towards Tang San. She wanted answers, not his blood.
Zhang Tian looked down at her shivering form. His vast spiritual senses easily picked up the complex, conflicting emotions swirling within her mind. The lack of killing intent towards her betrayer did not anger him; rather, it greatly amused him. It proved just how deeply the naive rabbit girl had been brainwashed by the protagonist's hypocritical righteousness.
"You are truly a pitiful creature," Zhang Tian chuckled.
He stepped to the side, his hand moving to her back. He firmly grabbed her slender waist and forcefully pulled her over his knee, laying her face-down across his lap.
SMACK!
His heavy, calloused palm came down with a resounding crack against her bare, bubbly buttocks.
"Ah!" Xiao Wu yelped, her legs kicking weakly against the stone.
SMACK! SMACK!
He spanked her repeatedly, establishing a steady, punishing rhythm. The sheer physical force of his strikes turned her pale, bubbly buttocks a bright, glowing shade of rosy pink. He thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of her soft flesh jiggling under his heavy hand, savoring the feeling of her lovely body reacting to his discipline.
"You need to grow up properly, little rabbit," Zhang Tian told her, his voice a dark, mocking drawl as he continued to spank her. "You are still far too frail and lacking in true, mature beauty. You currently look like a plucked weed."
He slapped her right cheek again, leaving a clear, red handprint.
"If you want me to favor you, and if you want to avoid spending the rest of your life staring at these red leaves in absolute silence," Zhang Tian instructed, his tone laced with arrogant superiority, "you need to have your body mature more. You need to develop large, heavy breasts that fill my hands. You need to grow wide, curvy buttocks that bounce when you walk. And you must maintain this slender waist. Only when you possess the body of a true, beautiful woman will I find you worthy of my bed."
Xiao Wu bit her lower lip, stifling her sobs as the stinging heat spread across her backside.
"Furthermore," Zhang Tian added, suddenly stopping the spanking. He ran his hand smoothly over her reddened skin, the unexpected, gentle caress sending a confusing shiver down her spine. "You better prepare yourself to cooperate entirely with my upcoming experiments. I am delving into the profound mysteries of the Self-Condensed Spirit Ring. As a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast who has chosen to transform into a human, your unique physical and spiritual composition is an invaluable resource. You will be my prime test subject."
Naturally, Xiao Wu did not respond to any of his degrading words. She lay limp across his lap, her tears soaking the dark fabric of his expensive robes. She kept her eyes squeezed shut, retreating into the darkness of her own mind. But within that darkness, a chilling, undeniable truth anchored her to reality: she knew that she had absolutely no choice but to cooperate. She was a captive, stripped of her pride, her family, and her hope. Her body and her spirit belonged entirely to the red-haired monster.
Zhang Tian stood up, effortlessly dumping her back onto the cold stone floor. He did not spare her a second glance as he adjusted his robes. He turned on his heel and walked up the spiral stone staircase, the heavy iron door clicking shut behind him with a resonant, final clang that plunged the dungeon back into its silent, bloody twilight.
Zhang Tian navigated the opulent, warmly lit hallways of his massive mansion. The stark contrast between the lavish, perfumed corridors above and the despair-filled dungeon below was a testament to his absolute control over his domain. He walked with a relaxed, confident stride, making his way toward the eastern wing where his primary study was located.
As he turned a corner, he met up with Ah Yin. The crimson-haired woman was waiting patiently near a large, ornate window overlooking the expansive, moonlit gardens. She wore a simple, elegant blue dress that perfectly highlighted her mature, maternal curves, her aura radiating a calm, absolute loyalty.
"My Lord," Ah Yin greeted him softly, bowing her head slightly. "Is the rabbit fully aware of her new reality?"
"She is broken," Zhang Tian confirmed, a dark, satisfied smile touching his lips. "The illusion of her righteous savior has been shattered. She is an empty vessel now, ready for my shaping."
He stopped in front of the window, his icy blue eyes staring out into the dark night. His expression shifted from sadistic amusement to cold, pragmatic calculation.
"Yin," Zhang Tian commanded, his voice taking on the serious tone of a sovereign issuing military orders. "I need you to command your subjects. Keep a meticulous, unbroken note of all locations regarding where Tang San is going. The Blood Silver Grass must track his every footstep across the continent."
"It shall be done, My Lord," Ah Yin replied immediately. "But... is he truly such a massive threat now?"
"After having acquired two hundred-thousand-year-old spirit rings and their accompanying spirit bones in such a short period, Tang San can be considered a genuinely formidable enemy," Zhang Tian analyzed, his mind rapidly processing the tactical data. "He possesses the explosive, blunt trauma of the Titan Giant Ape and the majestic, paralyzing control of the Sky Azure Bull Python. His foundation, previously ruined by the white rings, has been forcefully repaired through ancient blood."
However, Zhang Tian knew that the true danger did not lie solely with the boy.
"But most importantly," Zhang Tian continued, turning to look deeply into Ah Yin's crimson eyes. "Tang Hao is a terrifying, formidable enemy. He is not merely a veteran warrior fighting for revenge."
Zhang Tian's mind shifted back to the visual records provided by his plant network weeks ago, detailing the clash that had occurred near the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire.
"He is being actively, secretly assisted by that Asura God," Zhang Tian deduced, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "Judging by that intense battle I observed through the Blood Silver Grass in the area, the evidence is undeniable. In that skirmish, Tang Hao was able to severely injure Azure Luan Douluo and Golden Lion Douluo. Both of those elders are incredibly powerful, standing strong at Level 97 as Super Douluos. They were both using their absolute strongest spirit ring abilities and their martial spirit avatars."
Zhang Tian's eyes narrowed as he recalled the sheer, impossible devastation of the hammer strikes.
"And yet," Zhang Tian emphasized the impossibility of the feat, "Tang Hao was able to beat the two of them into a retreat, heavily injuring them in the process. He did this using his legendary Ring Explosion technique and the profound Great Sumeru Hammer arts, despite only possessing a cultivation base of Level 95. A Level 95 defeating two Level 97s in a frontal clash defies the very laws of spirit power accumulation. That level of destructive output is not natural; it carries the heavy, bloody taint of divine intervention. The Asura God is funneling killing intent into his chosen blade."
Ah Yin frowned, her beautiful face reflecting deep concern. "If he can achieve such devastation at Level 95, then his potential for destruction is limitless."
"Exactly," Zhang Tian agreed grimly. "If Tang Hao recovers his lost foundation and grows stronger, stepping firmly into the higher tiers of a Super Douluo... the threat he will pose to our plans will only increase exponentially. He is a mad dog backed by a god of slaughter."
Zhang Tian began to pace slowly down the hallway, Ah Yin falling into step perfectly beside him.
"And since the Clear Sky Sect will definitely act to help Tang Hao and even Tang San once their restored strength is revealed," Zhang Tian strategized, "they need to be dealt with permanently as well. We cannot allow them to regroup and form a coalition. This also includes their staunch, historical allies, which are the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. A unified upper three sects could pose a significant nuisance."
He stopped and looked at her. "The Blood Silver Grass network across the continent has to provide quick, accurate information, especially regarding the hidden movements of the Clear Sky Sect and the gathering of the dragon clan members."
"I will expand the root networks beneath their known territories tonight," Ah Yin promised, her loyalty absolute.
Zhang Tian nodded, a confident smirk returning to his face. "Excellent. Well, with Bibi Dong residing together with us in this mansion, we at least do not need to fear any sudden, overwhelming attacks from any faction. We possess the absolute high ground."
Soon after concluding his tactical discussion with Ah Yin, Zhang Tian made his way to the grand dining hall located in the western wing of the mansion. The room was a masterpiece of architectural luxury, featuring high, vaulted ceilings painted with intricate frescoes and a massive crystal chandelier that cast a brilliant, warm light over the long, polished mahogany table.
He walked through the ornate double doors to meet with Bibi Dong, who was already seated together with Qian Renxue.
The mother and daughter presented a stunning, breathtaking picture of imperial beauty. They were both wearing incredibly elegant, highly refined clothing for the evening meal. Qian Renxue wore a beautiful, flowing dress of golden-white silk that perfectly highlighted her regal, angelic figure, the fabric clinging to her modest curves. Bibi Dong wore a sophisticated, high-collared gown of deep, rich purple velvet that cascaded around her mature, voluptuous form, projecting an aura of dignified, untouchable majesty.
Since they were sitting in the open dining hall, directly in front of Qian Renxue, Zhang Tian wasn't overtly intimate with Bibi Dong at all. He maintained the perfect facade of a respectful political ally and future son-in-law when addressing the Supreme Pontiff.
However, his behavior toward the daughter was entirely different.
Zhang Tian walked over to the head of the table. Instead of taking his own seat, he pulled Qian Renxue up from her chair and sat down, immediately pulling her back down to sit comfortably across his lap.
"Zhang Tian!" Qian Renxue giggled, a bright, beautiful blush dusting her flawless cheeks.
She did not resist in the slightest. She wrapped her slender arms around his neck, settling comfortably against his broad chest. Zhang Tian held her securely in his arms, his hands casually playing with the exposed, smooth skin of her midriff navel. His fingers traced light, teasing patterns across her stomach before moving upward to gently cup the soft swell of her breasts through the golden silk. He leaned in, pressing warm, affectionate kisses against her delicate neck and her flushed face, treating her with the utmost, romantic devotion.
"You look breathtaking tonight, Renxue," Zhang Tian murmured against her skin, making the future ruler of Heaven Dou melt in his embrace.
Across the table, Bibi Dong sat perfectly straight. She held a silver goblet of wine, her pink eyes watching the incredibly intimate display between her daughter and her secret master. Her face was a perfect, unreadable mask of calm, maternal approval.
"We were just discussing the state of the continent, Zhang Tian," Bibi Dong spoke, her voice carrying the smooth, authoritative cadence of the Supreme Pontiff. "The tournament has concluded, but the ripples it caused will soon turn into waves."
"Indeed," Zhang Tian agreed, pausing his kisses to look at the older woman. He began telling both of them of the impending, massive threat possessed by Tang Hao and Tang San.
The trio began eating the lavish spread of food prepared by the estate's master chefs. Qian Renxue, utterly infatuated, picked up a silver fork. She selected a tender piece of spirit-infused roasted meat and romantically fed it directly into Zhang Tian's mouth, smiling brightly as he chewed.
While the conversation flowed smoothly above the table, a highly scandalous, deeply submissive reality was playing out entirely hidden from view beneath the heavy, floor-length velvet tablecloth.
Zhang Tian casually slipped his right foot out of his expensive, dark leather footwear. He stretched his leg forward under the long table until his bare foot made contact with Bibi Dong's leg.
Bibi Dong did not flinch. She did not gasp or break her composed, regal posture.
Zhang Tian used his foot under the table to slowly, agonizingly trail up her calf. He slipped his toes beneath the heavy hem of her purple velvet gown, touching the incredibly soft, gentle skin of her bare leg. He moved his foot higher, his toes lightly tracing the smooth curve of her inner thigh before reaching up to brazenly press against the sensitive skin of her midriff, right above her silken undergarments.
Bibi Dong let him do that without a single word of protest. In fact, a deep, thrilling jolt of pure, submissive electricity shot straight to her core. Her inner walls clenched instantly, weeping a hot, slick trail of moisture into her garments. The sheer danger of the situation—having her body actively played with and degraded by her master while her own daughter sat blissfully unaware mere feet away—was an intoxicating aphrodisiac that made her mind spin.
She maintained her perfectly calm, dignified expression as she took a small bite of her food. She desperately didn't want her daughter, Qian Renxue, to know about how deeply intimate and shameful her relationship with Zhang Tian truly was. Earlier that day, Zhang Tian had explicitly told Bibi Dong that he wanted to keep their highly intimate, master-and-pet relationship an absolute secret from Qian Renxue for the time being. Bibi Dong had accepted the command instantly, entirely subservient to his twisted, thrilling games.
"You mentioned that Tang San has acquired new strength," Qian Renxue noted, her violet eyes serious as she fed him a spirit grape. "How significant is the threat?"
"Highly significant," Zhang Tian explained, chewing the grape while his toes lightly pinched the soft flesh of Bibi Dong's thigh, causing the Supreme Pontiff to subtly squeeze her legs together around his foot.
"Tang San has managed to secure two spirit rings and spirit bones" Zhang Tian continued, speaking to the women. "He somehow convinced two spirit beasts, both exceeding a hundred thousand years in age, to willingly sacrifice themselves for him. They poured their ancient essence directly into his Clear Sky Hammer, granting him two red spirit rings and two supreme spirit bones."
Qian Renxue gasped aloud, her hand covering her mouth in sheer shock. "Two hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts? Willingly sacrificing themselves? That is unheard of! How did he manage to achieve that?!"
"It is a miraculous, terrifying occurrence," Bibi Dong agreed aloud, her voice perfectly steady despite the fact that Zhang Tian's toes were currently tracing the damp fabric of her undergarments. She forced her breathing to remain even. "The foundation of the Clear Sky Hammer is unparalleled. With two red rings, the boy will possess offensive capabilities that rival older generation experts."
Zhang Tian purposely did not tell them how Tang Hao and Tang San had managed to get the two hundred-thousand-year-old beasts to sacrifice themselves. He knew there must have been some highly manipulative method with which they achieved it, as he couldn't hear their specific conversations through the silent visual feed of the grass.
Furthermore, he explicitly did not tell them that the two sacrificed beasts were directly related to Xiao Wu. He kept the secret that the rabbit girl was also a Hundred-Thousand-Year-Old Spirit Beast entirely to himself. He would not mention Xiao Wu to them at all, nor would he ever reveal that the broken, weeping girl was currently locked in a glowing red cage in his subterranean dungeon, serving as his personal plaything. The less they knew about his captives, the smoother his household would run.
With the lavish meal concluded, the three of them shifted their focus entirely toward grand strategy. They began to thoroughly analyze the possible, immediate actions of Tang Hao, Tang San, and the remnants of the Clear Sky Sect.
"The Clear Sky Sect are currently stationed near the Heaven Dou City," Qian Renxue stated, her golden-white wings remaining hidden beneath her dress, but her angelic authority bleeding into her voice. "But with Tang Hao's movements and Tang San possessing such monumental strength, they will undoubtedly seek to rebuild their former glory and strike back against the Spirit Hall."
"The question is, where will they plant their flag?" Zhang Tian pondered aloud. He finally withdrew his foot from beneath Bibi Dong's robes, slipping it back into his footwear.
Bibi Dong let out a tiny, almost imperceptible sigh of relief and disappointment as the thrilling contact ended.
Zhang Tian concluded his thoughts rapidly, his brilliant mind mapping the geopolitical landscape of the continent. "There is a very high chance that the Clear Sky Sect might choose to leave the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire entirely and head south, seeking sanctuary and an alliance within the Star Luo Empire."
"Why Star Luo Empire?" Qian Renxue asked, tilting her head curiously.
"It is a matter of hostile environments," Zhang Tian explained, his icy blue eyes gleaming with tactical foresight. "Consider the current political state of the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Family. The royal court seems to be heavily favoring and helping me. This is, of course, due to the imposter acting as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe under your direct command, Renxue."
He smiled warmly at the blonde angel in his lap, and she beamed back proudly, knowing her years of flawless infiltration were paying massive dividends.
"Because the Heaven Dou Empire's court is effectively our territory," Zhang Tian continued, "the Clear Sky Sect will find no political shelter here. However, the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Family is directly, bloodily enemies with me."
"The enmity runs deep," Bibi Dong agreed, leaning forward slightly, her regal demeanor fully restored.
"Indeed," Zhang Tian nodded. "First, I brutally crippled their prominent prince, Dai Mubai, leaving him a broken shell. Second, the matter of my marriages. I married Zhu Zhuqing, who was the politically bound fiancee to their prince Dai Mubai. And most recently, I publicly abducted and claimed Zhu Zhuyun as my absolute prize, a woman who was the official wife of the Crown Prince, Dai Weisi, of the Star Luo Empire. The humiliation I have inflicted upon their royal family is absolute. They despise me, and by extension, they despise our alliance."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Qian Renxue quoted the ancient proverb, realization dawning in her violet eyes. "The Star Luo imperial family will welcome Tang Hao and the Clear Sky Sect with open arms, offering them resources and shelter in exchange for their formidable martial power to combat us."
"Exactly," Zhang Tian agreed. "But we must not underestimate the Star Luo Empire's true military foundation. They are not merely a kingdom of arrogant princes."
Bibi Dong took over the explanation, her vast knowledge as the Supreme Pontiff shining through.
"The Star Luo Empire has many ancient, deeply hidden sects," Bibi Dong told him, her pink eyes serious. "The most prominent among them is the reclusive Xu Family, which possesses the legendary 'Star Crown' as its martial spirit. They have several incredibly powerful hidden experts, some even standing firmly at the Titled Douluo and Super Douluo realms."
"If they possess Super Douluos, why are they not the ruling family?" Qian Renxue asked, genuinely curious about the political dynamics of their rival empire.
"Because of the specific nature of their power," Bibi Dong explained patiently. "Since the Star Crown is strictly a support-type spirit, they cannot fight a direct, frontal battle against the sheer, overwhelming physical might of the Imperial Family."
Bibi Dong detailed the terrifying apex of Star Luo's power. "The ruling Emperor of the Dai Family possesses the Evil Eyed White Tiger spirit, and the Empress of the Zhu Family possesses the Hell Civet spirit. Together, they can execute the Spirit Fusion skill: Hell White Tiger. When the Emperor and Empress, who are both at the absolute peak of the Spirit Douluo realm, fuse their spirits, the resulting beast can fight evenly against, and even kill, a true Super Douluo. The raw destruction of the Hell White Tiger is absolute. If it weren't for this unmatched fusion skill and their numerous Imperial Experts in the Spirit Douluo realm, the Xu Family might have usurped the throne and become the Imperial Family of the Star Luo Empire long ago."
"The Star Crown is not to be taken lightly, however," Bibi Dong warned, looking directly at Zhang Tian to ensure he understood the threat. "It is a Tool Spirit possessing the most potent, unique supporting attack ability in existence. Their primary ability creates a devastating star shower upon the battlefield. With each star acting akin to a highly condensed explosive bomb, they do not just cause physical damage; with each strike, they actively weaken the opponent's inherent attack power and spiritual defenses."
"The Star Crown Spirit's might far exceeds that of ordinary, high-tier Spirits," Bibi Dong concluded her lecture. "Even a few top-ranked, offensive Titled Douluos wouldn't be able to go against a fully supported Star Crown formation without suffering heavy losses. However, its wielder needs to cultivate arduously in order to use it, limiting their overall numbers."
"Also," she added, "the Star Luo Empire has several more hidden sects and reclusive Titled Douluo scattered across their mountains that might emerge from isolation and support the Star Luo Empire if a continent-wide war is declared."
Zhang Tian listened to the comprehensive intelligence report in absolute silence, his mind rapidly processing the vast array of enemy assets, troop deployments, and strategic chokepoints.
Well, after having thoroughly analyzed this wealth of information... Zhang Tian felt a cold, ruthless smile spread across his face.
"It would be far better for the Clear Sky Sect, Tang San, and all the other dissenting factions to flock to the Star Luo Empire," Zhang Tian declared, his voice carrying the chilling certainty of a grandmaster who had already seen the final checkmate.
Qian Renxue looked up at him, confused. "Better? But Husband, if they unite their strength with the Hell White Tiger, the Star Crown, and the hidden sects... their military might will be incredibly formidable."
"That is exactly the point, my dear Renxue," Zhang Tian explained, his icy blue eyes gleaming with dark, Machiavellian brilliance.
"Once the Star Luo Empire gathers all these factions and becomes too strong, their inherent, imperial pride will swell to uncontrollable proportions. The influx of power will make them dangerously arrogant. They will believe they finally possess the strength to challenge the heavens."
He picked up his wine goblet, swirling the dark crimson liquid.
"And when a rabid dog believes it is a lion, it makes mistakes," Zhang Tian concluded, taking a slow sip. "Their arrogance will inevitably make them commit the fatal blunder of actively attacking or aggressively targeting the Spirit Hall and our territories first. They will strike out of pride and a desire for vengeance."
Bibi Dong's pink eyes widened slightly as she grasped the sheer, terrifying scope of his grand strategy.
"And when they strike first..." Bibi Dong whispered, a cruel, victorious smile echoing his own.
"Exactly," Zhang Tian nodded, setting the goblet down with a solid clink. "Their unprovoked aggression will give the Spirit Hall the perfect, unassailable opportunity to deal with the Star Luo Empire in an open, glorious war. We will not be the tyrants conquering a peaceful nation; we will be the righteous defenders striking back against arrogant warmongers. We will have the absolute, unwavering public support of the entire continent, and the perfect, moral reasoning behind a war of total annihilation. We will let them gather their strength in one place, and then... we will crush them all at once."
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels [Villain: Manipulating The Heroines Into Hating The Protagonist] and [Harem Master: Seduction System].
Also, check out 20 Chapters Ahead for this fanfic on my P.atreon.
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/