Haremlord: Rise of the Banished

Lan Wu's tearful, heartfelt expression amused Lan An. This guy's acting surpasses mine. Moments ago, they fought to the death; now, he played the family card, pleading for kinship.

Utterly laughable.

Lan An, a soul from Earth fused with the original Lan An's memories, never saw the Lan Clan as home. Their actions repulsed him. Even if Lan Po Lei begged, he'd remain unmoved.

"Soul Chains," he intoned coldly.

Before Lan Wu's despairing eyes, Lan Qi's soul wailed, devoured in a scream echoing from the depths of the Nine Hells.

With that, Lan An's soul cultivation broke through to Peak Nascent Soul.

"Exhilarating," he sighed, his spirit radiant.

He could have killed Lan Qi outright and seized his soul, but for Lan Clan members, suffering before death was justice for the original Lan An's tormented childhood.

Lan Wu, trembling, roared, "Monster! You're not that trash! He couldn't be this terrifying!"

Lan An's talent struck him deeply. Had Lan An shown such prowess from birth, who'd have treated him as trash?

But the world had no "what ifs." The original Lan An died under their cruelty.

"Surrender your soul's origin, and I'll spare your life," Lan An said with a chilling smile.

Certain of death, Lan Wu grasped at hope like a drowning man. Ecstatic, he carefully extracted his soul's origin.

Lan An nodded, binding Lan Wu as his slave. His eyes hardened.

"Aaah!" Lan Wu plummeted into agony, blood streaming from his orifices, his soul gnawed by a thousand swords, driving him to madness.

"Master, spare me!" he begged, kowtowing mid-air.

A Mid Refining Void cultivator, reduced to this—unimaginable.

Lan An relented, ceasing the torment. He produced a Video Recording Jade, addressing Bing Lan Xi, then handed it to Lan Wu. "Take this to the Ice Mysterious Empire. Serve Third Princess Bing Lan Xi, obeying her even at the cost of your life."

Lan Wu's eyes flickered, surprised Lan An meddled in the empire's crown prince struggle. "Any objections?" Lan An asked sternly.

"No, Master! I obey!" Lan Wu bowed, terrified.

Lan An nodded, satisfied. "When did you ally with Fan Yin Temple? Any other factions involved?"

"Besides Fan Yin Temple, Lan Po Lei sent envoys to negotiate with the Blood Spirit Sect and the Second Prince of the Ice Mysterious Empire," Lan Wu replied respectfully.

"Results?" Lan An's eyes narrowed.

"The Blood Spirit Sect refused to meet our envoy for unknown reasons. The Second Prince sent the Lin Clan to ally with us," Lan Wu said honestly.

"The Lin Clan?" Lan An sneered. "Such effort for a mere youth like me."

The Lin Clan was Lin Qing's family, the Second Prince's lackey and the empire's Prime Minister. Lin Qing was high on Lan An's kill list.

Lan Wu lowered his head, thinking, If you were ordinary, it'd be simple. Lan An's allies formidable women like Ji Ya and Yan Yue Qi's past assault on the Lan Clan made him a threat.

"Why would the Blood Spirit Sect refuse, despite hating me?" Lan An muttered, puzzled.

"Why didn't the Lin Clan join you this time?" Ji Ya asked coldly.

"The alliance is temporary," Lan Wu explained. "The crown prince competition is intensifying. The Lin Clan is focused on supporting the Second Prince, lacking manpower to target Master."

Lan An's eyes glinted. The Second Prince prioritized the throne, underestimating him. "Hmph, underestimate me? I'll give you a stinging slap," he thought coldly.

Inspecting the loot, he found Fan Yin Temple techniques, the Lan Clan's Ice Mountain Fist, and roughly 300,000 spirit stones—meager for elders, barely enough for a Spirit-grade treasure. Hai Zhou cultivators were far wealthier than Bing Tian's.

"Hand over the Falling Moon Ice Scripture," Lan An ordered Lan Wu. Lan Qi and Lan Liu's rings lacked it.

Lan Wu, startled that Lan An didn't want his ring, produced an ancient book. "Master, this is a copy, only up to the second layer of the Falling Moon Ice Scripture. The third layer is restricted to the clan leader and Great Elder."

"Typical clan nonsense," Lan An scoffed. Why not share fully with family? Hai Hong Sect's entire sect practiced the Water Sea True Art.

Examining the scripture, Lan An noted its first layer was Mid Heaven-grade, the second High Heaven-grade, and the third reportedly Top Heaven-grade. The copy only included the first two.

"My past knowledge was lacking," he murmured. Childhood memories pegged the scripture as Mid Heaven-grade, unaware of its layered progression.

"Done here? Go to the Third Princess. She's your second master now. No funny ideas, or one thought from me makes you wish for death. Clear?" Lan An's voice carried the lingering imperial aura of Heavenly Emperor Transformation.

"Yes, Master! I understand," Lan Wu bowed, knowing soul cultivators sensed betrayal instantly.

Wu San Niang's barrier vanished, her Transcending Tribulation prowess unfathomable. Lan An etched her favor in his heart, vowing to restore the Heaven-Splitting Gauntlets for her. The Spirit Realm Pearl, beyond his current understanding, had autonomously collected treasures like the Soul-Stabilizing Coffin.

Above, Ji Ya clung to Lan An's arm, smiling softly. "Husband, Sister Lan Xi will be touched."

Younger and later to the harem, Ji Ya respectfully called Bing Lan Xi "sister" despite her greater strength. In a short time, Lan An secured two Refining Void subordinates Le Wen Lian (Early) and Lan Wu (Mid) for Bing Lan Xi and Bing Yong. Recruiting such power typically cost dearly, with risks of betrayal. These two, soul-bound, were utterly loyal.

Bing Lan Xi would be thrilled.

Lan An grinned, his soul cultivation breakthrough insufficient for further gains from Lan Wu's soul alone. Thus, he bolstered Bing Yong's forces instead.

"Per Ling Er, Bing Yong's faction is weak. Every bit helps," he said, patting Little Lion's head, who purred, curled in his arms despite her Sixth Rank.

He handed Ji Ya two manuals. "Take the Falling Moon Ice Scripture and Ice Mountain Fist. Practice or discard them as you wish."

Ji Ya accepted, glaring playfully. Ice Mountain Fist was Top Earth-grade, the scripture High Heaven-grade how could she discard them?

"Is that Dwarf Island?"

A fiery red island, laced with dark coal, loomed in Lan An's sight, radiating oppressive heat. Clang! Clang! Clang! The relentless sound of metal clashing echoed forging, hammering, unceasing.

Dwarves, stout and dark, with oversized eyes and noses dominating their faces, worked meticulously at forges. Their homes were crude caves in volcanic cliffs or dug into the earth, deceptively simple.

Don't mistake them for poor. Thousands of fortified turrets lined the island, their massive cannons ready to obliterate foes. Lan An estimated a full salvo could reduce a Peak Refining Void cultivator to ash.

The harbor boasted optimized warships, far surpassing Bing Shark's vessels.

"The Dwarf Clan lives simply in caves filled with gold, gems, and refining materials," Ji Ya said, amused. "Their combat talent is low, so they crush enemies with treasures and weapons."

Little Lion poked out, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Tch, Qing Xuan's buried in alchemy, or I'd have brought her to see this," Lan An said, checking the Spirit Realm Pearl as they descended to the sea, per Ji Ya's guidance. Flying over Dwarf heads invited cannon fire.

Closer, Lan An marveled at their weaponry. Cave entrances bristled with lethal traps. Merchants traded treasures and weapons bustlingly.

"Who's stronger, Dwarves or Thunderbolt Hall?" Lan An mused. Bomb-makers versus weapon-crafters quite a clash.

"Oh, it's her," he noted, spotting Ai Xin disembarking a lavish warship with fawning youths.

He glanced briefly, then looked away.

Ji Ya, disguised as Bai Su Mai in elegant Ice Silk Blue Robes, drew their gazes, especially the young men's.

"It's her? So beautiful," Ai Xin murmured, admiring Ji Ya's attire. She'd seen Lan An and his women at Nga My Archipelago, captivated by their clothing. Only at the Barter Festival did they don Dark Cloaks to hide.

Biting her lip, Ai Xin approached.

Yan Clan

A peerless figure appeared in the meeting hall. Yan Yue Qi lounged on her phoenix throne, eyeing the stodgy elders with boredom.

"What's this about? Why summon me?" Her lips, redder than fire, parted slowly.

"Clan Leader, explain why you attacked the Lan Clan unprovoked," Yan Di, the Second Elder nearing Late Refining Void, demanded, his aura pressing.

The six other elders looked up, awaiting her response.

"A mere Lan Clan. I strike or leave as I please. Such trifles bother you?" Yan Yue Qi shook her head, unimpressed.

"Trifles?" Yan Di scoffed. "Their alliance with Fan Yin Temple squeezes our trade in cities. We've lost significant deals."

"Can't you fight back? Is the Yan Clan afraid? Beat them until they cower," she said domineeringly, her queenly aura silencing them.

The elders' faces twitched.

"Fighting needs justification," Yan Ba, the Third Elder at Mid Refining Void, snapped. "Your unprovoked attack makes us the aggressors."

Yan Yue Qi laughed. "In a world where might rules, you care about fault?"

The Yan Clan thrived on boldness strike at discord, fight to the death, instill fear. Their Flame Art demanded fearless ferocity. These elders, growing timid with age, disappointed her.

Unable to retort, the elders glowered, unconvinced.

"You disappoint me," Yan Yue Qi said proudly. "The Lan Clan and Fan Yin Temple are cowards. Would they dare storm us? Their petty schemes fluster you?"

Silent, the elders bowed their heads.

"Where's Yan Tian?" she asked, eyes narrowing. "Does the Great Elder ignore me?"

The elders flinched. Yan Di, with a sly tone, said, "He's in seclusion, breaking through to Peak Refining Void. Upon emerging, he'll be our strongest."

A mocking glint passed Yan Yue Qi's eyes at "strongest."

Her stunning figure vanished from the throne, leaving a sultry voice, "Good news. Don't disappoint me, Yan Tian or any of you. As for the Lan Clan and Fan Yin Temple kill them."