Above the Li Clan, the Dream Immortal Boat hovered, its massive silhouette casting a shadow over the entire clan grounds. Countless Li clansmen looked up in shock, dazzled by the boat's opulence and grandeur, their jaws dropping in unison.
When Li Yuan rushed out with Jin Xiu and the elders, they saw Lan An and Li Zhu Luan standing hand-in-hand at the bow—like a celestial couple. A spark of admiration flashed in their eyes; they were truly a perfect match.
Li Zhu Luan wore an elegant palace gown that hugged her graceful figure. Her glossy hair was pinned high, revealing a slender, snow-white neck. Beyond the fresh beauty of her twenties, she exuded the mature charm of a young wife—utterly breathtaking.
"Loan'er!"
Jin Xiu covered her mouth, tears welling up—love, longing, pride, joy… nothing surpassed a mother's heart.
Li Yuan said nothing, but his stern face softened, his nose tingling. They had only one daughter, gone for so long, now returning with her beloved—how could he not be moved?
Seeing Lan An's arm around Li Zhu Luan's waist on the Dream Immortal Boat, the Li Clan youths envied, while Mu Xing's eyes burned with jealousy.
"Father, Mother!"
Li Zhu Luan stared at the figures she'd missed, unable to hold back. With a whoosh, she soared down, throwing herself into Jin Xiu's arms, hugging tightly.
"My good girl, you're back—just come home!" Mother and daughter wept, making Li Yuan and the elders' eyes redden.
Lan An smiled at the scene, shrinking the Dream Immortal Boat to land nearby, following Li Zhu Luan. The women, not wanting to overwhelm the Li Clan, had already entered the Spirit Realm Pearl.
After a long while, Jin Xiu released her, scrutinizing her daughter, teasing,
"Even prettier than before—you're making your mother jealous!"
"Hehe, I take after Mother! Right, Father?" Li Zhu Luan giggled, clinging to Li Yuan's arm, acting spoiled.
"Exactly!" Li Yuan gave a thumbs-up. His greatest pride was marrying Jin Xiu.
Li Zhu Luan's beauty was indeed inherited from her mother.
"Loan'er's back—are the grandpas well?" Like a little bird, she greeted each elder warmly.
"Our little miss has grown…"
The elders' wrinkled faces bloomed with smiles, eyes full of affection. Li Zhu Luan was the clan's treasure.
"Loan'er, who is this?"
Jin Xiu finally acknowledged Lan An, pulling Li Zhu Luan's hand, pretending to ask. Everyone knew their relationship and Lan An's identity, but formalities were necessary.
Li Zhu Luan blushed, holding Lan An's hand, whispering, "He's Lan An, my beloved!"
"This junior greets Uncle, Aunt, and Seniors!" Lan An bowed politely to Li Yuan, Jin Xiu, and the elders.
"Greetings, Young Master Lan!" The elders were flattered—called "Seniors" by a Top 10 Golden Ranking genius felt like walking on clouds.
Their faces glowed, eyes shining.
"Hmph, your parents haven't approved your relationship yet!" Li Yuan huffed, thinking this brat had kept his daughter away too long—he couldn't be lenient.
"Father!" Li Zhu Luan stomped, embarrassed by his childishness.
"Uncle, forgive me. Zhu Luan and I had complications, causing worry," Lan An said warmly.
Li Yuan didn't fawn over his status but judged as an elder—worthy of respect.
"Hmph…" Li Yuan huffed again, about to speak, when his waist was pinched, face paling.
"What did you say? Repeat it! Xiao Nam said there were reasons, and you still want to make it hard for them? Is this how a father acts? Denying your daughter happiness?"
Jin Xiu's fingers twisted Li Yuan's flesh, scolding relentlessly. The elders looked skyward or groundward, pretending not to know the couple.
"I know, I know—let go!" Li Yuan nodded frantically, cursing his wife for robbing his dignity before his son-in-law.
Pfft…
Li Zhu Luan burst into laughter. Even Lan An was infected by the warmth—the Li Clan gave him an excellent impression.
"Junior Sister Loan, long time no see!"
A voice broke the moment. Mu Xing stepped forward, smiling warmly at Li Zhu Luan.
Only now did she notice Mu Song and Mu Xing, frowning,
"Sect Leader and Senior Brother Mu Xing—what brings you to the Li Clan?"
"Great! You still acknowledge this Sect Leader and senior brother?" Mu Song and Mu Xing beamed, asking eagerly.
Li Zhu Luan shook her head calmly, lips pursed, "I left the Heavenly Wood Sect with Master. I call you that for old times' sake—don't misunderstand!"
She held no good impression of Mu Song. If he hadn't indulged his son Mu Hao, none of the troubles would've happened. She wouldn't have hidden her identity to follow Lan An, unable to visit home.
"Junior Sister, how can you be so heartless? The Heavenly Wood Sect made you who you are!" Mu Xing boasted, inwardly resentful.
"Indeed, we nurtured you. Now that you're successful, you forget old ties?" Mu Song accused.
"You…" The Li Clan seethed—such shamelessness!
"Hmph, every resource I earned from the Heavenly Wood Sect came from missions. My only teacher was Master, who also left. We owe each other nothing," Li Zhu Luan said calmly, speaking truth without guilt.
"Never seen such shamelessness! Less than a year ago, you oppressed the Li Clan for Loan'er being with Xiao Nam. Now you want to play family? No chance!" Jin Xiu roared, showing her fierce side.
Before, she was polite due to lack of backing. Now, with her son-in-law present, she feared nothing.
"This happened?" Li Zhu Luan was shocked—her family suffered for her.
"Yes, when news spread of you and Young Master Lan excelling in the Holy Spirit Academy trial, the Heavenly Wood Sect turned hostile, suppressing us," the Great Elder confirmed.
"Hmph, recently, after the Harem's fame spread, they suddenly wanted an alliance—we refused!" another elder added.
Lan An's eyes flickered, piecing it together.
"You're the Heavenly Wood Sect Leader? Mu Hao was your son?" he asked Mu Song casually.
Mu Song shuddered. Lan An's cultivation was lower, but his aura terrified him.
"Young Master Lan, I won't pursue Mu Hao's death. I hope we can ally with the Li Clan for mutual benefit!" Mu Song said, forcing calm.
He cursed his luck. He'd planned to sway the Li Clan into an alliance for Harem protection and to avoid Lan An's revenge. But the Li Clan resisted, and now Lan An and Li Zhu Luan returned—pure misfortune.
"You won't pursue me, but I'll pursue you!" Lan An sneered inwardly.
Seeing Lan An silent, Mu Xing stepped forward grandly,
"Lan An, I'm Mu Xing, disciple of the Fourth Enforcer of the Holy Spirit Academy. For his sake, reconcile with the Heavenly Wood Sect. Peace is best."
Lan An ignored him, sizing them up, nodding, "Good. I planned to visit the Heavenly Wood Sect. You came to me!"
Mu Xing and Mu Song paled, trembling, "What do you want? We have the Fourth Enforcer's backing!"
Lan An muttered lowly, "Soul Explosion Art!"
An invisible, tyrannical force struck. Mu Xing and Mu Song screamed, blood streaming from orifices. Mu Xing's soul shattered, collapsing dead. Mu Song's eyes dulled, mind paralyzed—a vegetable.
Gulp…
Swallowing sounds echoed. The Li Clan fell deathly silent, barely breathing, staring at Lan An in horror. They knew he was strong, but one glance reducing Mu Xing and Mu Song to this—beyond comprehension.
Li Yuan and Jin Xiu's eyes shone—such a domineering son-in-law!
"Huo Li… visit the Heavenly Wood Sect. Disband them. Bring their treasury to the Li Clan!" Lan An ordered casually.
"Oh, and raze the Spirit Martial City Lord's Manor too!"
"Yes, Lord!" a deep voice answered from space.
From Qing Hong River to the Li Clan via the Dream Immortal Boat, Lan An and the women had taken over ten days, leisurely sightseeing.
Huo Li and Huo Shan had recovered half their strength—decent progress.
Lan An held a terrible impression of the Heavenly Wood Sect.
From Mu Hao and an elder plotting to kill him and seize Li Zhu Luan, Yin Zhi Ping betraying Mu Zi Yin, to Mu Xing and Mu Song's shamelessness today…
Spirit Martial City's young lord Mu Jiao had stolen his assets and set Mu Hao on him—Lan An hadn't forgotten.
A sect harboring such scum didn't deserve to exist.
Sending an Integration expert was "merciful."
As he said: repay kindness a hundredfold, grudges forever. That was Lan An's way. He wouldn't waste words debating right and wrong with the Heavenly Wood Sect.
"Hi… Mu Xing was an Enforcer's disciple. Will this cause trouble?" Jin Xiu asked worriedly.
"Aunt, don't worry. This is a personal grudge. The Holy Spirit Academy won't interfere by rule," Lan An smiled.
"Good. Let's talk inside…" Li Yuan ordered the bodies cleared, suggesting.
The elders snapped back, hurrying after.
…
Meanwhile, at the Liu Clan…
The Frenzied Queen Wu San Niang lounged, eating fruit in a guest room, flaunting her scorching figure and honey-toned thighs. A purple grape slipped between her luscious lips as she gazed at the graceful back by the window, drawling,
"Alright, what's coming will come. That stinky brat's on his way! This old lady misses him to death…"
The elegant figure trembled, her unique violet-purple hair swaying—silky, rebellious, refined, bewitching, dangerously alluring. One might know it's poison yet still bury their face in it.
Her hair slid along her perfect curves. Crystal-white feet paced anxiously, slender hands twisting, betraying extreme unease.
"Sister San Niang… how do you think he'll react?"
"Will he recognize me?"
"Will he forgive me?"
"Will he accept me?"
Soft, heavenly voices rang out, laced with worry, restlessness, and longing—indescribable.
Wu San Niang crossed her left leg over her right, showing off its endless allure, lips curling carelessly,
"If he dares act up, I'll beat him… Relax, Yu Qing!"