Haremlord: Rise of the Banished

Dark Night was a man of towering pride. At under 500 years old, still a youth in the Cultivation World, his ascent to Void Refining and a place on the Golden Ranking was a dream for millions. Wealth, fame he lacked nothing. Yet, he knew much of it stemmed from Night Shadow Island's backing, his father being its Great Elder. His loyalty to the sect was absolute.

Thus, his arrogance couldn't tolerate anyone shaming Night Shadow Island, especially a younger cultivator like Lan An. He had tracked Lan An, seeking a chance to strike, confident in his assassin's stealth despite knowing a stronger female powerhouse accompanied him. But before that woman appeared, Lan An himself struck first.

The turn of events defied Dark Night's expectations. More shocking was Lan An's terrifying strength, meeting him head-on without yielding. Having witnessed Lan An's battle with Dark Li, where Dark Li though weaker had left Lan An battered, Dark Night grew cocky. Killing Lan An would restore Night Shadow Island's honor.

Alas, the world had no room for "what ifs."

Lan An set Ai Xin aside, his white robes billowing as he vanished.

Flash!

His teleportation reached its peak, reappearing beside Dark Night.

Ai Xin watched, stunned. A Late Spirit Transformation cultivator was pursuing a Void Refining powerhouse a feat hard to fathom.

Lan An's killing intent surged, his anger palpable. He had no grudge with Night Shadow Island, yet their greed for his treasures repeatedly pushed him to death's door. The Dragon King Spear, sensing its master's fury, roared, striking Dark Night's head with ferocious dominance.

"Hmph, hiding your cultivation, are you? Late Spirit Transformation?" Dark Night sneered. Though shocked by Lan An's prowess, he wasn't afraid. A Golden Ranking figure didn't cower easily, and he had tricks left.

Raising his Great Saber, Dark Energy swirled into a black tempest, its killing intent slashing at Lan An's strike.

"Black Wind Slash!"

Clang!

The clash churned the sea below, space fracturing with tiny rifts. Both Lan An and Dark Night staggered back dozens of steps in the air.

Lan An's face grew stern. Before Ai Xin's astonished eyes, Purple Thunder roared forth, merging with the spear.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Dragon King Spear transformed into a mighty Lightning weapon, crackling with violet arcs. Lan An's body shimmered with Purple Thunder, a Thunder God incarnate.

After studying the Three-Colored Thunder Tribulation and Tribulation Thunder Cauldron, Lan An discovered he could separate it into three distinct types Purple Thunder, Black Thunder, and White Thunder. The Three-Colored Thunder Tribulation was their fusion, under his control to split or combine at will. Using them individually ensured no one suspected his link to the Eye of the Heavenly Dao. Though less potent alone, they sufficed against Dark Night.

"Sweeping Thousand Armies!"

A sky-shaking strike of Purple Thunder swept toward Dark Night's neck.

Dark Night's expression darkened. Thunder countered Darkness, second only to Light. In his fight with Dark Li, Lan An had used only two Strange Flames. Now, wielding Thunder, he hadn't shown his full strength before.

Growing wary, Dark Night resolved to fight with all he had or flee if needed.

"Black Wind Slash!"

The same move, now infused with boundless Darkness, a black tempest howling as he gripped the saber with both hands, clashing against the Heavenly Army Spear Art.

Boom!

Dark Night flew back, his arms numbed by Purple Thunder, skin peeling. Yet, as if planned, he used the momentum to tear space and vanish.

"One Night Soul-Seizing Technique!"

With a shout, the sky turned pitch-black, night descending.

"This again?" Lan An muttered. Dark Li had used this, forcing a life-for-life exchange to wound him. Now, he was prepared.

White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye activated fully, sensing every spatial ripple. A Great Saber, gleaming with Void Refining might, approached from behind like a reaper's scythe.

As it neared, Dark Night, hidden in the void, grinned viciously. But his face paled as a tyrannical aura swept over, his spirit struck, the saber trembling in fear.

Lan An's hair turned radiant gold, his black-and-white eyes blazing with dominance, his presence like an emperor commanding the heavens. Below, Ai Xin's heart pounded, her legs trembling as if to kneel, his aura surpassing even her grandfather's majesty.

Heavenly Emperor Transformation – Unrivaled Under Heaven.

Under this peerless aura, Dark Night's assassin instincts wavered, as if he were a traitor daring to strike an emperor, deserving death.

Roar!

In the darkness, the golden-haired emperor turned. A majestic Golden Crow perched atop his head, claws bared at Dark Night.

"You dare assassinate Us?" Lan An's voice boomed, his dual eyes swirling, unrivaled in might.

"N-No…" Dark Night stammered.

He quickly realized his error this was his enemy! Assassination was right!

"Damn it, what technique is this?" he cursed, horrified that a mere youth's aura could shake an assassin like him.

Too late. "Heavenly Army Spear Art, Second Form – Spear Shaking Nine Heavens!"

Lan An's majestic voice echoed. The Dragon King Spear roared eagerly, Purple Thunder surging. He thrust toward Dark Night's head.

With his breakthrough, Lan An had mastered the spear art's next form, its power shaking the nine heavens and ten earths.

Dark Night, worthy of the Golden Ranking, raised his saber to block at the last moment.

Boom!

The strike shook the skies, the saber shattering into fragments before Dark Night's bloodshot, terrified eyes.

Spurt!

The spear, deflected slightly, pierced his left shoulder, tearing through.

Crackle!

Purple Thunder ravaged, threatening to destroy his body.

"No!" Dark Night screamed, making the most decisive choice of his life. A second saber appeared in his right hand, slashing off his left shoulder and arm.

"Aaaah!" His agonized wail echoed like a cry from the underworld, blood spraying as he severed his limb to escape the spear.

Lan An was slightly surprised by his resolve. A moment more, and he'd have channeled both Strange Flames through the spear, incinerating Dark Night entirely.

"Dark Heaven-Shrouding Palm!"

Like a wounded beast, Dark Night's body melded into the clouds, darkness enveloping the sky. A massive dark hand formed, its power earth-shattering.

When Dark Li used this, Lan An needed his strongest Spirit Fusion Palm to counter. Now, he merely raised his head, golden hair billowing like an emperor.

The spear retracted. His hands stacked lightly.

Emperor Flame roared, merging with Strange Water and Strange Wood. Spirit Fusion Palm condensed instantly.

In Heavenly Emperor Transformation, Lan An's combat peak allowed instant palm deployment, no charging needed.

He thrust the palm toward the descending hand.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Space shattered, the dark sky blazing bright. The palm annihilated the dark hand, shooting toward Dark Night.

"How?!" Dark Night's scream echoed across the heavens, his spirit energy drained.

In Lan An's view, he pathetically tore space to flee.

"Hmph, where do you think you're going?"

Ai Xin appeared in the sky. To Lan An's shock, she hefted a massive black cannon, large as a pillar, onto her shoulder.

Lan An shivered this woman packed serious firepower.

Her face cold, Ai Xin locked onto Dark Night.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three cannon shells, like explosive missiles, pierced the void, striking Dark Night instantly.

"Damn it!" His hair stood on end, escape impossible. His high status granted a lifesaving treasure a black turtle shell.

He tossed it up, the shell enlarging. Dark Night hid within.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Ear-splitting blasts echoed, spirit energy and shattered space creating chaos. When it cleared, the shell lay in pieces, Dark Night gone.

"Damn, he escaped!" Ai Xin stomped, fuming.

Lan An stayed silent, having expected this. Killing a Void Refining cultivator as a Spirit Transformation was nearly impossible unless their spatial escape was blocked, as his master had done against Lan Liu. Dark Night, no fool, fled with all his might.

Examining the shell fragments, Lan An found them extraordinarily tough.

"Shell of a Late Sixth Rank Black Armored Turtle, known for defense," Jin'er concluded.

Lan An glanced at Ai Xin's cannon, stunned. Her weapon could harm a Late Void Refining cultivator terrifying. No wonder, as a privileged heiress.

"Don't look at me like that. I rely on weapons; you're the real monster with your raw power," Ai Xin grinned, stowing the cannon and descending to the ship.

Lan An shrugged, thinking Dark Night was lucky. He hadn't wanted to disturb Little Lion or Ji Ya over this.

His desire to master Void Gate grew. With it, Void Refining cowards couldn't flee. But Eight Gates Escape Armor was brutally difficult. Beyond the first gate, Open Gate, his soul force offered little help. His physical cultivation relied on Heavenly Treasures and rebirths, but Eight Gates required grueling training he lacked guidance for unless a physical cultivation master like Wu San Niang mentored him.

He missed his master, yearning for her guidance. Far from arrogant despite his system, Lan An was eager to learn what he didn't know.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Sudden applause rang out. Two youths appeared, blocking the ship.

Lan An's face darkened. One was Chen Zhi, who'd demanded his Heavenly Thunder Stone on Dwarf Island.

"Chen Zhi and Chen Jue?" Ai Xin frowned.

"Miss Ai Xin, we're not here for you," Chen Zhi said, his eyes flashing with admiration.

Chen Jue, clapping, fixed his gaze on Lan An. "I've used the Heavenly Thunder Stone," Lan An said. "You're too late."

"No, not for that anymore," Chen Jue shook his head, a great saber crackling with thunder appearing in his hand. He smiled coldly. "Your storage ring."