Chapter 512: Who's Helping Whom Cultivate? The Gloves Are Off, Ruin and Disgrace

“They’re moving that fast?”

“Then again, this is what I expected.”

Jiang Lan had long anticipated that Kong Xuan and the others would run into trouble, but he hadn’t expected the Barbarian Race to act so quickly.

He wasn’t worried, however.

Next, he ordered, “Recall Xiang Xiao, Jin Ming, and Yuan Kong.”

You’Er didn’t dare to delay and quickly left.

Jiang Lan pondered for a moment, then turned and went back to his bedchamber, waking Tantai Qing, who was still fast asleep.

Tantai Qing woke with a start. She pulled the thin silk quilt over her body, leaving only her smooth, jade-like shoulders exposed as her black hair cascaded down. Her eyes fixed on him, filled with dissatisfaction.

“What?”

“Of course, something’s come up,” Jiang Lan replied casually.

“Turn around. I need to get dressed,” Tantai Qing said, annoyed.

Jiang Lan shrugged. “I’ve seen it all before. What’s there to be shy about?”

Tantai Qing glared at him coldly.

Jiang Lan shook his head helplessly and turned around. Soon, the RUSTLE of fabric came from behind him, along with a few sharp hisses, as if she were sucking in a breath through her teeth.

“That bastard…”

“He doesn’t have a single gentle bone in his body.”

He could faintly hear Tantai Qing’s low, angry curses.

“Don’t be so quick to curse me,” came Jiang Lan’s placid voice. “Why don’t you feel for yourself what you’ve gained before you complain?”

“Huh…?”

‘Wait, there really are benefits?’

Tantai Qing was now fully dressed.

She took a moment to sense the energy within her body. A hazy but profound new understanding seemed to have bloomed in her mind.

“So the Thoughts of the Six Desires and Thoughts of the Seven Emotions from the Six Desires Demon Skill can be refined this way… Or is it because of something special about you?”

“You’re just full of secrets.”

She had to admit, she was pleasantly surprised.

The single night of cultivation hadn’t just deepened her power; it had also made her understanding of the Six Desires Demon Skill clearer and more profound. She was even on the verge of breaking through to the next stage.

Suddenly, Tantai Qing’s gaze burned as she stared at Jiang Lan.

‘At this rate,’ she thought, ‘it might not even take a month for me to reach the next stage, condense my Six Desires Dharma Aspect, and break through to the Seventh Realm.’

“I told you long ago that you wouldn’t lose out by being my woman,” Jiang Lan said, seeming to know what she was thinking.

Tantai Qing reined in her thoughts. ‘I may have benefited a great deal, but Jiang Lan definitely gained even more.’

“Has something happened?” she asked.

Even in her sleep, she had faintly sensed that Jiang Lan had left the room.

‘For him to return and wake me… something must have happened.’

“The Helian Family has captured two of my subordinates,” Jiang Lan said succinctly.

Tantai Qing frowned, but then a gloating smile touched her lips. “It seems the Helian Family is determined to seek its own doom. So they’re ready to tear down all pretenses…”

But she trailed off, quickly realizing something.

“No, that’s not right. The Helian Family isn’t that stupid…”

“I say they captured them, so they captured them,” Jiang Lan cut her off.

Tantai Qing narrowed her eyes, guessing his implication.

“What do you need me to do?” She was smart enough not to ask any more questions.

‘Now that Helian Wen has made contact with the Helian Family, he’ll surely do everything in his power to get revenge and ruin my reputation.’

The Helian Family and the Tantai Family were long past the point of peaceful negotiation. Tensions were now at a breaking point, ready to erupt into open conflict at any moment.

“I need you to come to an understanding with your grandfather and the Tantai Family. I need a guarantee that the entire Tantai Family will follow my lead from now on.”

“I know what the Tantai Family wants. When this is over, I can guarantee you’ll get it,” Jiang Lan said calmly.

“I’ll speak to my grandfather about this.”

Tantai Qing nodded, then asked, “By the way, where is Helian Wen now?”

“Him?”

Jiang Lan smiled. “He’s with the Helian Family right now. Do you think they’ll hand him over easily?”

“He’s no fool. Anywhere outside the Helian Family’s territory is extremely dangerous for him. Do you really think he’d be running around in the open, waiting for you to send your people to hunt him down?”

Tantai Qing’s expression darkened. She glared at him resentfully. “Why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?”

“Why would I have told you yesterday?” Jiang Lan replied with a faint, unreadable smile.

“Bastard…” Furious, Tantai Qing slammed her fist into his chest.

Jiang Lan just smiled and pulled her into his arms, and the two shared another tender moment in the hall.

Soon, Jin Ming and Yuan Kong, having received the news, rushed over. Xiang Xiao, who had been on standby, also came into the courtyard.

Jiang Lan and Tantai Qing walked over.

“Young Master.”

The three greeted him in unison.

Jiang Lan waved his hand. “I assume you’ve heard what happened to Ao Yin and Kong Xuan. What are your thoughts?”

Jin Ming cupped his hands. “Young Master, both Ao Yin and Kong Xuan have plenty of tricks up their sleeves. Capturing them would be no easy feat.”

“And now, on Immortal Ascension Island, nearly every major Noble Family knows they are your people. For someone to still move against them so brazenly… whoever is behind this must have a powerful background.”

Xiang Xiao also spoke up. “The most likely culprits are the Helian Family and the Barbarian Race, who are lurking in the shadows…”

“But there were no signs of a struggle when they went missing. I suspect they were lured away and fell into a trap somewhere.”

“Their lives shouldn’t be in immediate danger for now.”

Jiang Lan nodded.

‘The Barbarian Race operated in the shadows while he was out in the open. Of course they would recognize the people at his side, like Ao Yin and Kong Xuan.’