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Gazing at Ruo Xue's radiant smile as she nestled in his arms, Lan An's hand caressed her silken skin, saying, "My master gifted me several cultivation methods and treasures. I'd like to find some for you. What methods do you practice?"
"Me?" Ruo Xue, surprised by his offer, answered honestly, "I cultivate the Earth Path Art and Water Heart Art, both High Earth-Grade methods from the Hundred Flowers Sect."
Lan An nodded. Not all sects offered multi-attribute methods, and with Ruo Xue's dual Water and Earth spiritual roots, practicing two methods made sense.
But he wasn't satisfied, shaking his head. "High Earth-Grade is too weak. Let me find something better for you."
Ruo Xue's eyes widened. Earth-Grade methods were beyond most cultivators' reach, yet her man dismissed them as "too weak."
Sensing her confusion, Lan An kissed her forehead fondly, smiling, "Zi Yin and the others cultivate Spirit-Grade methods or higher."
Ruo Xue was speechless. She knew Lan An had a mysterious master, but not one so formidable. Spirit-Grade methods weren't common herbs, yet his women wielded them.
"Hold on a moment," Lan An grinned, recalling the cultivation method in the Lucky Shop's upgrade gift pack. He checked his remaining Prestige Points.
Nearly a billion Prestige Points, after the ten million deduction and gains from two trials—not bad.
Ding, does the host confirm purchase of the Shop Upgrade Gift Pack? the system prompted.
"Yes!" Lan An gritted his teeth. Spending over half his points stung.
Purchase successful. 500 million Prestige Points deducted. Host receives Shop Upgrade Gift Pack!
"Open it!" Lan An commanded.
Four system notifications chimed:
Ding, congratulations, host, for obtaining Water Desolate Bloodline!
Ding, congratulations, host, for obtaining cultivation method: Nine Suns Divine Art, grade unspecified!
Ding, congratulations, host, for obtaining physique: Great Sun Divine Body!
Ding, congratulations, host, for obtaining Heaven-Grade Soul Technique: Soul Shackles!
Lan An swiftly reviewed each item's details:
Water Desolate Bloodline: Bloodline of the Water Desolate Clan, a race innately formidable in water and earth combat, mastering Water and Earth elements with peerless finesse, supreme in the cosmos.
"Isn't this tailor-made for Ruo Xue?" Lan An murmured. He'd sought a method for her, not expecting a bloodline.
He held off deciding, inspecting the rest.
Nine Suns Divine Art: Grade unspecified, suited for Fire attribute cultivators. At its peak, it forms the power of nine suns, incinerating all creation.
Great Sun Divine Body: An ultra-rare physique, unseen for eons, ranked 17th on the Great Physique Chart, among the cosmos' mightiest Fire physiques, immune to evil toxins, capable of burning heavens and devouring earth.
Lan An inhaled sharply at their potency, thinking, "These method and physique were born for Hong Lian, no one else!"
The Heaven-Grade Soul Shackles, a soul technique, was perfect for a soul cultivator like him.
"This pack's worth every point," Lan An marveled.
"Of course, the system never deceives you!" Jin Ni chuckled.
"What's the Great Physique Chart?" Lan An recalled the Great Sun Divine Body's ranking, asking curiously.
"Unlike bloodlines, physiques are ranked by strength, as each physique manifests in only one individual per era, not entire clans like bloodlines. The Great Physique Chart ranks all physiques across the cosmos, from weakest to strongest," Jin Ni explained.
"Is 17th impressive?" Lan An probed.
"Physiques are exceedingly rare, but the cosmos is vast. Ranking 17th, universally recognized, shows the Great Sun Divine Body's dominance," Jin Ni said gravely.
"Oh? What about the Nine Yin Heavenly Body or Yin-Yang Sacred Body?" Lan An cited physiques Jin Ni mentioned before.
"Nine Yin Heavenly Body ranks 26th, Yin-Yang Sacred Body 21st," Jin Ni replied after a pause.
"So low?" Lan An gasped.
"Those physiques excel in dual cultivation, not combat, unlike the Great Sun Divine Body," Jin Ni analyzed patiently.
"Got it!" Lan An nodded. The Great Physique Chart prioritized battle prowess.
The Great Sun Divine Body, unsuited for dual cultivation, offered terrifying combat power.
Lan An couldn't wait for Yan Hong Lian to become a fire goddess, conquering the heavens for him.
Though potent, the Great Sun Divine Body favored Fire elements, unappealing to a multi-element cultivator like him.
"Ruo Xue, look!" Lan An flipped his hand, revealing a translucent jade vial, chilling to the touch, containing a peculiar blood droplet, red with vein-like river patterns.
Water Desolate Bloodline.
"This blood's divine!" Ruo Xue's eyes sparkled, sensing its affinity, her body craving it intensely.
"It's the Water Desolate Bloodline, perfect for a Water and Earth cultivator like you," Lan An smiled.
"Don't rush, young master. Though less dominant than your Reverse Dragon Bloodline, refining it takes months, depending on her compatibility," Jin Ni cautioned.
Lan An nodded, relaying this to Ruo Xue.
"I'll hold off refining until after the third trial," Ruo Xue said, clinging to him. She wanted to face the trial with her man, avoiding risks.
"Fine, keep it for now!" Lan An handed her the vial.
"Love you most!" Ruo Xue stowed it happily, kissing him.
"Open the Lucky Shop!" Lan An commanded inwardly.
With a bloodline secured, he sought a cultivation method.
Five items appeared, including new offerings:
Venom Lizard Spirit Beast Egg – 6,000
Prestige Points Ancient Elephant Bloodline – 10 million Prestige Points
Arhat Sky-Sealing Palm – Spirit-Grade Martial Skill – 15,000 Prestige Points
Water-Earth Pearl – High Heaven-Grade Treasure – 9,000 Prestige Points
Designated Teleportation Talisman – 10,000 Prestige Points
The Ancient Elephant Bloodline's staggering price caught Lan An's eye, dwarfing other items.
"Don't be shocked, young master. Bloodlines define a cultivator's lifelong strength. Temporary aids like martial skills or treasures can't compare," Jin Ni explained. "The system prices Ancient Elephant Bloodline low. Your Reverse Dragon Bloodline would cost over 100 billion Prestige Points."
"The system evaluates bloodlines on many factors, chiefly their growth potential."
Lan An nodded, her logic sound.
Martial skills and treasures had grades, becoming obsolete as his cultivation soared, but bloodlines endured, justifying their cost.
The Ancient Elephant Bloodline suited elephant beast clans, not him.
He bought the Water-Earth Pearl and Designated Teleportation Talisman instantly.
The Water-Earth Pearl was a fine treasure for Ruo Xue's defense.
The Designated Teleportation Talisman allowed precise, long-range travel, far surpassing the Lesser Teleportation Talisman.
Purchase complete, Lan An ordered, "Refresh again."
Ding, items refreshed, 10,000 Prestige Points deducted.
Lan An nearly spat blood, cursing inwardly, "Refresh jumped from 1,000 to 10,000? Are you kidding?"
"Level 1 and Level 2 shop refreshes naturally cost more," Jin Ni shrugged helplessly.
Lan An inhaled deeply, suppressing his outrage. He'd thought his vast Prestige Points allowed lavish spending, but the upgraded shop drained them fast.
He'd planned bloodlines for each woman, but if the mundane Ancient Elephant Bloodline cost so much, his road was long.
After several refreshes yielding useless pet eggs and irrelevant bloodlines, Lan An sighed in relief at the 17th refresh:
Water Desolate War Canon, Volume 1 – Water Desolate Clan method, Extreme Spirit-Grade, 80,000 Prestige Points.
"Volume 1 alone is this high-grade. A full set's price must be insane," Lan An clicked his tongue, buying it.
For Ruo Xue's current realm, Volume 1 sufficed.
Paired with the Water Desolate Bloodline, her potential was limitless.
With gifts for Hong Lian and Ruo Xue secured, he couldn't neglect Yan Die Qing, but he'd consult her first.
"Treasure, one more round, then your husband has gifts for you!" Lan An embraced her slender waist, smitten.
"Mmm, quick, my love—Hong Lian's sisters are waiting…" Ruo Xue parted her jade legs, revealing her moist bloom.
They'd yielded him to her; she couldn't be too greedy.
Lan An cherished her more, his shaft entering her bloom, smiling gently, "Relax your mind—I'll transmit a method."
Ruo Xue nodded obediently.
Their bare bodies entwined, her enchanting moans echoing in the palace.
Lan An transmitted the Dragon Immortal Sacred Canon.
After their lovemaking, Ruo Xue climaxed thrice more, limp as noodles, too weak to dress.
Lan An caressed her long, presenting the Water-Earth Pearl and Water Desolate War Canon, cautioning her to delay cultivation until after the trial.
He included a Beauty Nurturing Pill.
Ruo Xue's heart brimmed with joy, mustering strength to see him off.
Lan An's trial wounds, after their dual cultivation, healed eighty percent.
Watching his departing figure, Ruo Xue returned to bed, lying bare.
Caressing his gifts, sweetness shone in her eyes.
In love, women often overthink, and as a Harem Faction member, she did.
Mu Zi Yin and Li Zhu Luan were master and disciple.
Ji Ya and Ji Bing were sisters.
The Yan sisters were sisters.
Liu Shi Qin was his aunt.
Bai Su Mei shared a contract with him.
Qin Meng Ying and Bing Lan Xi, Void Refining Stage, outranked her in status.
Pondering, Ruo Xue, his first woman, lacked standout advantages.
Though Lan An loved her deeply, she felt insecure, seeking a close ally in the harem.
Two stunning figures flashed in her mind: Su Mei, Hua Yu Feng.
"Big Sister, Second Sister… as they say, fertile waters stay in the field. My husband will surely satisfy you," Ruo Xue's eyes gleamed, her lips curling in a sly murmur.
Yan Hong Lian and Yan Die Qing, hand in hand, strolled the Palace Tree, curiously surveying their surroundings.
Lan An spotted them from afar, approaching with a smile.
"Hmph!" Seeing him, the sisters crossed their arms, turning away petulantly.
"My darling treasures, who upset you? Tell me, I'll thrash them!" Lan An, thick-skinned, embraced their fragrant forms, sitting on a cloud-wreathed branch, grinning.
"That vixen kept you so long!" Yan Hong Lian pouted her fiery lips, aggrieved.
Lan An laughed wryly. He'd indulged Ruo Xue longer, feeling guilty, and with a flourish, produced two garments.
The man resorted to gifts to charm.
Lotus Flame Treasure Robe and Wind Chime Treasure Robe.
The sisters' eyes lit up, snatching one each, slipping from his arms to try them, their gazes dazzling.
The Lotus Flame Treasure Robe, styled like a cheongsam, was vivid red, embroidered with a lotus.
The Wind Chime Treasure Robe, resembling a past-life schoolgirl's gown, was pristine white, adorned with delicate wind chimes.
Few women could resist their allure.
"Hmph, you've some conscience!" The sisters glared, their charm boundless.
"Knew you'd love them. I've more gifts, but have you chosen palaces?" Lan An asked, smiling.
The sisters exchanged glances. Yan Die Qing pouted, "We like palaces too far apart, but we want to stay close!"
Lan An realized their issue. Hong Lian cultivated Fire, Die Qing Wind and Wood—their ideal palaces were distant.
"Show me," he smiled.
Yan Hong Lian grabbed his hand, leading to a fiery red palace, etched with flame patterns, warm and vibrant.
Yan Die Qing favored a refreshing palace, surrounded by lush greenery and fragrant blooms.
"Easy fix!" Lan An puffed his chest, communing with the Palace Tree.
Before their stunned eyes, the massive branches holding their palaces shifted, swiftly aligning side by side.
They became neighbors, near Ji Ya and Ji Bing's cool palaces, their owners still in seclusion.
"Little An-gege is amazing!" Yan Die Qing clapped excitedly, hooking his arm.
Yan Hong Lian smiled, satisfied, taking his other arm.
Hong Lian Palace and Die Qing Palace, named for them!" Lan An grinned, handing them teleportation tokens.
"We want to see Die Qing Palace!" they chimed, eager.
Lan An nodded, arms around their slender waists, entering the palace together.