"Oh? The kid's awake?"
Lan An's audible gulp didn't escape the senses of the two Late Fusion Realm soldiers, who turned to scrutinize him.
Cough, cough, cough!
Lan An feigned weakness, hacking violently to maintain his guise as a gravely wounded victim. His prior injuries were too severe for a rapid recovery to go unquestioned. Healing two-thirds in so short a time would spark suspicion and invite trouble.
He had to play the part, biding his time to probe the Ancient Ferocious Prison Earth in White Sand Dynasty.
Seeing his labored coughing, Brother Li and his comrade exchanged glances, forgoing deeper inspection. "The princess's Healing Pill is remarkable, working so fast," Li remarked, impressed.
"Pity, though. His injuries were too severe. Even if he survives, he's likely a cripple," Li sighed softly.
The cultivation world was brutal—one misstep could cost everything. They spared Lan An no further thought, pressing on toward White Sand Dynasty.
Ice Heaven Continent, Lan Clan Headquarters
In a vast, clandestine chamber, two factions faced each other, their expressions heavy with near-despair. The Lan Clan and Fan Yin Temple convened in grim council.
Lan Po Lei, the clan patriarch, stood resolute, his presence commanding. Opposite him was an elderly monk in plain robes, his kindly face masking sharp, golden eyes like piercing needles—Fan Zheng, Supreme Elder of Fan Yin Temple, a perfected Refining Void cultivator, outranking even the temple's abbot.
Yet Lan Po Lei held his ground, his aura unwavering, the void faintly trembling around him. He, too, had reached perfected Refining Void. A dual spiritual root genius in his youth, he'd amassed the clan's resources as patriarch, making his breakthrough expected. But his grim expression showed no pride, only unease.
"Who can tell me how that little beast became the disciple of Saint Spirit Academy's Headmaster?" Lan Po Lei growled, each word seething through clenched teeth.
News of Lan An's exploits on Sea Continent had reached Ice Heaven Continent. The star buzzed with word that the Mad Violent Queen, Wu San Niang, had taken a male disciple. Four Tribulation Realm experts—Dan Clan's Twin Ancestors, Hundred Spirit Academy's Headmaster, and Saint Spirit Academy's Headmaster—appearing for one youth was seismic, spreading through every channel in record time.
Tribulation Realm cultivators were Viet Dragon Star's apex, elusive as dragons. Their convergence was earth-shattering. Wu San Niang's near-clash with three other Tribulation experts over her disciple sent shockwaves globally.
When Lan Po Lei heard, he nearly collapsed, his face ashen. His "useless" son now outranked him. A Tribulation Realm disciple was a status he couldn't dream of.
Despite the Lan Clan's Eighth-Grade prestige, a Tribulation cultivator could crush them effortlessly. In panic, he summoned Fan Yin Temple to strategize.
"It's unexpected, but consider Yan Yue Qi's actions. It's clear now, isn't it?" Lan Liang said, fanning himself beside Lan Po Lei. Yan Yue Qi's assault on the Lan Clan to avenge Lan An revealed their bond.
"Yan Yue Qi, the Saint Spirit Headmaster's top disciple, protecting her junior brother makes sense," a Fan Yin monk agreed.
The room drew a collective breath, dread settling in. Lan An's terrifying growth was already troubling; now, backed by Wu San Niang, he was untouchable.
"What do we do? Our enmity with him is irreconcilable!" Lan Qing Lie, the clan's Great Elder, demanded.
Cold sweat dripped as they contemplated Lan An's Tribulation backing. "It's not hopeless. The Four Great Academies' rules bar Wu San Niang from intervening in personal grudges," Lan Liang said, calming the tension.
"Indeed, our feud predates his status. The Saint Spirit Headmaster can't interfere," Fan Zheng nodded, stroking his white beard.
"But her influence will draw countless rogue cultivators to shield Lan An to curry her favor. Open pursuit is no longer viable," Lan Po Lei pinpointed the core issue.
Tribulation cultivators were the star's pinnacle. Many sought their favor, and Lan An was now a gateway to Wu San Niang's approval. Her affection for him, shown on Sea Continent, made him a magnet for opportunists, especially perfected Body Unity experts seeking Tribulation insights.
The room's seasoned elders understood Lan Po Lei's concern. "With his growth, he'll come for us in a few years," Fan Zheng said, his sharp eyes noting Lan An's potential.
"His vengeful nature won't allow peace," Lan Qing Lie added grimly.
"Assassination's impossible, reconciliation futile. Do we sit and wait for his revenge?" several elders from both factions asked.
"No, we act—decisively!" Luo Liang's eyes gleamed, teeth gritted. "I have a plan."
"Speak!" the crowd urged.
Luo Liang nodded, revealing, "On Ice Heaven Continent, Wu San Niang's influence is unmatched, and opposing Lan An here is foolish."
The elders' faces darkened, the truth bitter. "Do we beg for mercy?" a Fan Yin protector snapped.
"No," Lan Liang shook his head. "We take bold action. If we can't touch Lan An here, what about another continent?"
"You mean…" Fan Zheng's eyes widened.
"Exactly. It'll cost us dearly, but it's our only path. We leave Ice Heaven Continent, align with a stronger power on another continent, and secure backing to face Lan An without fear," Lan Liang confirmed.
The room fell silent, the weight of abandoning their ancestral home heavy. "It's reasonable, but is it feasible? Who'd accept us, and where do we go?" an elder questioned.
"No power would refuse an Eighth-Grade force like us," Lan Liang retorted. "As for where, haven't you guessed? Dark Origin or Sea Continent."
Lan Po Lei's eyes crackled with lightning. Everyone knew Lan An's feuds with Heavenly Beast Academy and Bach Hieu Sinh of Hundred Spirit Academy.
"Why not both? Fan Yin Temple joins Hundred Spirit Academy, and the Lan Clan aligns with Heavenly Beast Academy. With two academies' backing, why fear Wu San Niang?" Lan Liang declared, stepping aside.
Silence gripped the room. Two proud Eighth-Grade powers, forced to flee. Wu San Niang's mere influence drove them to such lengths.
"It's time to decide as leaders," Lan Po Lei and Fan Zheng exchanged looks, resolve hardening.
"Prepare fully! Relocate both factions with all resources in the shortest time. Ice Heaven Continent is no longer our home!" they roared in unison.
"As you command!" the factions shouted.
Lan Po Lei sank into his throne, fists bleeding, muttering, "To push us to this, Lan An, you're formidable. But the road is long. Before we leave, I've a special gift for you and that woman."
Yellow Sand Continent
An endless expanse of white sand stretched beneath a boundless sky, merging with the horizon. Sandstorms swirled into towering cyclones, the terrain scorched under a blazing sun. Yet, amidst this harshness, opulent cities thrived, their cultivators navigating the desert with ease, tempered by its rigors.
This was the White Sand Dynasty's domain, where nature's cruelty forged resilience. As Yu Chen's entourage emerged from Autumn Pine Forest, stepping onto the white sands, a commotion erupted.
"The White Bird Legion! The Little Princess returns!" a voice bellowed, igniting a frenzy.
From young to old, citizens abandoned their tasks, crowding city walls to gaze adoringly at the ornate carriage drawn by four White Sky Horses soaring above. Some cities lit fireworks, scattering petals along the path.
The people cheered like children greeting a returning mother, a testament to Bai Lian Hua's beloved status. The White Bird Legion waved warmly, pride swelling in their hearts. Yu Chen puffed his chest, basking in the admiring glances of young maidens.
After crossing numerous cities via teleportation arrays, a majestic city loomed in Lan An's senses—White Emperor City, dozens of times larger than others. Its pure white walls, crafted from glistening sand and studded with desert gems, shone like a goddess of the sands.
Above the gate, three bold characters danced like dragons: White Emperor City.
Crowds lined the walls, cheering ecstatically for their princess. But Lan An had no time for the spectacle. Within his dantian, the Spirit Earth Cauldron spun wildly, straining to break free. He focused to suppress it, but even he couldn't quell his own excitement.
Deep within White Emperor City, a force beckoned him and his cauldron, its allure overwhelming. The Tribulation Thunder Cauldron, Flame Heart Cauldron, Heavenly Wood Cauldron, and Mysterious Water Cauldron trembled, their battle intent surging, sensing a power worthy of standing alongside them.
Suppressing his emotions, Lan An's eyes blazed brighter than ever. He smirked, whispering, "Strongest Unique Earth? I'm here!"