Haremlord: Rise of the Banished

"You want my storage ring?" Lan An scratched his ear, eyeing the Chen brothers with mock surprise.

"Exactly. Hand it over, and out of respect for Miss Ai Xin, we'll let you leave," Chen Jue said coldly.

Over four hundred years ago, the Chen Clan was an unremarkable Sixth Rank force until the birth of Chen Jue, the clan head's eldest son. Gifted with a Lightning Spirit Root, he was peerless among his peers within a thousand miles, defeating Sixth Rank geniuses and even challenging Seventh Rank ones.

Yet, his humble origins limited him. Practicing only Earth-grade techniques at best, he struggled against prodigies from Eighth Rank forces. Talent alone couldn't overcome the lack of superior techniques and resources. Once, his childhood fiancée abandoned him on the eve of their wedding for a scion of an Eighth Rank force.

Driven to madness, Chen Jue left the clan for ten years. No one knew where he went or what fortunes he gained. He departed as a Late Nascent Soul cultivator and returned as a Late Spirit Transformation powerhouse. In a decade, his breakthroughs were staggering, his techniques and arts transformed.

The Chen Clan's ambitions soared, annexing nearby forces. In a few centuries, Chen Jue reached Void Refining at 300, earning a spot on the Golden Ranking, and advanced to Mid Void Refining by 390. The Chen Clan neared Eighth Rank status but lacked the vast resources needed for the leap.

In this resource drought, rumors of Lan An, a wealthy prodigy, emerged—a prime target. Seizing his riches could propel the Chen Clan to Eighth Rank status. Chen Zhi's request for the Heavenly Thunder Stone was coincidental; Chen Jue had already targeted Lan An at the previous Festival, ambushing him outside Treasure Pavilion.

Even without the Dwarf Island clash, Chen Jue would have sought Lan An. Ranked 33rd on the Golden Ranking, he was confident, believing even Ji Ya couldn't threaten him. With Lan An seemingly alone, it was a rare opportunity.

Seeing Chen Jue eyeing his ring, Lan An nodded as if enlightened, grinning. "So, you're beggars? Why didn't you say so? Storage rings are what I lack least."

He tossed a ring toward the brothers.

Instinctively, Chen Jue caught it. Before he could inspect it, Lan An added kindly, "Besides the ring, I included ten Low-grade Spirit Stones for roasted corn. Don't starve—wouldn't want that on my conscience."

"Pfft!" Ai Xin doubled over, laughing.

"You dare mock us?" Chen Zhi's face flushed red. As Chen Jue's younger brother, trained harshly from youth, he was 30th on the Hundred Spirits Ranking, a proud figure. Being called a beggar was intolerable.

A Mid Void Refining cultivator, Chen Jue hid his anger, his eyes narrowing. Bold enough to rob, he trusted his skills. If Lan An courted death, he couldn't be blamed.

"Miss Ai Xin, my apologies," Chen Jue said, clasping his hands, ready to act. The Chen Clan, though thriving, paled beside the Ai Clan. He wouldn't touch her.

"Chen Jue, don't think your backing makes you untouchable. Lan An is a guest of the Ai Clan. Leave now," Ai Xin said evenly, her noble demeanor shining.

"Miss Ai Xin, this man's origins are unclear. He could be a spy from another continent with ill intent. Don't be deceived," Chen Zhi warned.

"Haha, I haven't seen his ill intent, but I see you two openly robbing in broad daylight. If I'd known you were like this, I'd never have let you board my ship," Ai Xin sneered, her red lips curling, tempting Lan An to steal a kiss.

Both on the Hundred Spirits Ranking, she'd allowed Chen Zhi on her warship out of courtesy. Many admired her, the only woman in the ranking's top ten, a goddess at Hundred Spirits Academy with a grand background. His actions now crushed Chen Zhi's heart, redirecting his hatred to Lan An.

"Miss Ai Xin, you're mistaken. The cultivation world follows the law of the strong. If I lose today, I'll have no excuses. But the world knows the crime of carrying treasures. Blame him for flaunting his wealth," Chen Jue said slyly, twisting morality with practiced ease.

"He's a guest of the Ai Clan. Dare to touch him?" Ai Xin reiterated firmly.

"Haha, he's merely your guest, not the entire Ai Clan's. Would they act against me for a stranger?" Chen Jue smirked.

"Your banditry is no different from evil cultivators. Your Golden Ranking fame will crumble," Ai Xin argued.

Chen Jue shook his head. "My ranking comes from strength, not fame or virtue."

Ai Xin's expression flickered. Chen Jue was formidable, a top 33 Golden Ranking prodigy. A fight seemed inevitable, even for her.

"Zzz… Zzz…"

Suddenly, snores broke the tension, bewildering all three.

Unbeknownst to them, Lan An had strung a hammock on the ship's railing, sleeping soundly, drool at his mouth's corner, shameless to the core.

Ai Xin stared, dumbfounded. Was he serious? She was defending him, the robbery's target!

Thwack!

Fuming, she kicked his backside.

"Ow!" Lan An leapt up, clutching his rear, looking innocently at her.

"What's wrong with you? They're here to rob you!" Ai Xin fumed, chest heaving.

"You know they're robbing me?" Lan An asked, puzzled.

"What, you think they're here to make friends?" Ai Xin trembled with rage, her chest rising and falling, her low-cut Western-style dress revealing an enticing glimpse, making Lan An swallow hard.

"You…" Ai Xin turned away, unable to bear his gaze. He was so gallant against Dark Night, making her heart race. What was this now?

Lan An stretched, cracking his joints, and looked at her. "You're too naïve."

Ai Xin bristled but listened.

"They're robbers, devoid of morals, beasts in human form. The only way to deal with such scum is to beat them until they abandon their thieving ways. Why waste breath on beasts? Will they understand a human like you? I didn't want to waste time, so I napped. Call me when you're done talking nonsense, and I'll beat them," Lan An said, returning to his hammock.

Ai Xin froze, realization dawning. Like with Dark Night, he hadn't wasted words, shooting his bow without asking questions. Why was she debating robbers who feared nothing?

She bit her lip. Was she truly naïve?

"You seek death!" Chen Jue roared, his conversation with Ai Xin overheard. Lan An's repeated insults calling him a beast were unbearable. A top 33 Golden Ranking prodigy, he wouldn't tolerate such arrogance.

Killing intent flooded the sea. "Come fight! Don't hide behind a woman!" Chen Jue bellowed.

Lan An rubbed his ears, standing reluctantly. To Ai Xin, he said, "See? Your words mean nothing. For thieves like these, I'll teach you a poem. Recite it next time and save your breath."

Ai Xin's eyes lit up, lips pursed. "What poem?"

Lan An gazed into the distance, as if seeing through worldly truths, then looked at the Chen brothers with pity, reciting softly:

"Work hard to gain your prize,

Skill and toil bring rice.

Idle thieves who steal and lie,

Eat sh*t and swiftly die!"

"Shameless!" Ai Xin shouted, blushing. The crude poem mocked those who sought gain without effort, perfectly targeting the Chen brothers.

"Is he a rogue or a genius?" Ai Xin wondered, her curiosity blazing as she stared at Lan An.

"Don't look at me like that. A senior left this poem. I merely recited it for these thieves," Lan An shrugged.

"Pfft!" Chen Zhi, unable to endure the humiliation, spat blood, his face pale.

"Go back. I'll make him wish for death," Chen Jue growled, chest heaving with rage. Having climbed from nothing, even his fiancée's betrayal hadn't shamed him like this.

Chen Zhi nodded, vanishing in a flash, unable to bear more.

Ai Xin and Lan An ignored him a mere shrimp, not worth mention. Defeating Chen Jue would topple the Chen Clan.

"Thunder Heaven Flash!"

Chen Jue, done with insults, became a bolt of lightning, appearing beside Lan An instantly.

"Fight here and damage Ai Xin's ship? Who'll pay for it?" Lan An quipped, nearly making Chen Jue spit blood. Teleporting, he appeared in the sky.

Chen Jue, seething, followed as lightning, surpassing Lan An's speed, blocking him again.

His Thunder-Commanding Saber, a Heaven-grade treasure, slashed at Lan An's head, shattering space, stained with enemies' blood. Today, it craved Lan An's.

Lan An's eyes sharpened, sensing danger. Not underestimating the foe, he activated Heavenly Emperor Transformation – Unrivaled Under Heaven.

A domineering aura swept forth, startling Chen Jue. He'd seen Lan An use this against Dark Night, thinking he could resist. Now, the invisible pressure dulled his spirit, compounded by prior humiliation, reducing his strength to eighty percent.

Sneering, eighty percent was enough.

"Thunder-Commanding Saber, take his life!" Chen Jue roared, slashing.

"What a tacky name," Lan An mocked, parrying with Dragon King Spear.

Clang!

Lan An was blasted into the sea.

Seizing the moment, he summoned Blood Iron Battle Armor and Boots, gripping the spear, face stern.

As Chen Jue pursued, Lan An bellowed, "One Spear Shaking Nine Heavens!"

Teleporting, the spear blazed with two Strange Flames, thrusting at Chen Jue's face.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The strike shook the heavens. Chen Jue, unfazed, swung the Thunder-Commanding Saber, each slash crackling with thunder.

"One Saber Earth-Splitting!"

Gripping the saber with both hands, he clashed with Lan An's spear. Though over the sea, the ocean parted under the saber's might.

Boom!

Their wrists shook, space shattering. Their weapons clashed, eyes locked in a deadly stare. Lan An's Piercing Weakness Sight activated fully.

Roar!

A Golden Crow appeared around Lan An, its fiery claws slashing at Chen Jue's head Golden Crow Body Protection.

In close combat, the crow shone. But Chen Jue was no pushover, spitting a thunder orb at the claws.

Boom!

Space exploded, thunder meeting flame, forming a mushroom cloud of raw power.

Chen Jue's robes tore, while Lan An's armor held firm, making him a war god against a tattered beggar.

Under Ai Xin's exasperated gaze, Lan An tossed Chen Jue a woman's outfit from the Lucky Shop, saying kindly, "Charity for you. Dress and let's continue!"