Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 974: Heading To Azure Cloud City

The midday sun beat down upon the Cloud-Peak Pavilion, its golden rays fracturing against the defensive arrays that shimmered like a soap bubble over the highest peak of the Fragrance Melody Sect. Four months had passed since Wang Jian’s breakthrough to the Core Formation Realm, and the atmosphere within the pavilion had transformed from one of tense preparation to a humming, vibrant powerhouse of accumulated strength.

In the central courtyard, the air warped and twisted, heat waves radiating outward in visible ripples. Two figures danced amidst the distortion, their movements blurring into streaks of gold and crimson.

”Attack me, Ling’er! Do not hold back! Use the full heat of the flame!” Hua Yimei’s voice rang out, authoritative yet breathless, echoing off the stone walls.

”I won’t, Mother!” Hua Ling shouted back, her voice filled with a competitive, youthful exuberance.

Hua Yimei, the Sect Leader, stood her ground. She was no longer the woman in heavy, restrictive ceremonial robes that hid her figure. Today, in the absolute privacy of Wang Jian’s domain, she wore a garment designed solely for his pleasure and her mobility. It was a cheongsam-style dress made of crimson spirit-silk, but heavily modified by Wang Jian’s specific, lewd instructions. The fabric clung to her voluptuous, mature curves like a second skin, the side slits reaching dangerously high up her thighs, exposing the creamy white flesh of her legs and the curve of her hip with every stance she took. The midriff was cut out in a wide diamond shape, revealing her flat, toned stomach and the deep, inviting navel.

But the most arresting feature was the neckline—a deep, plunging V that showcased the massive, heavy cleavage of her breasts, barely contained by the fabric. As she moved, the silk strained to hold her assets, pushing them up and together.

Opposite her, Hua Ling mirrored her mother’s intensity, though her outfit was a shade of azure blue, matching the sky. She, too, exposed her midriff and legs, her youthful body firm and perky, a budding flower compared to her mother’s ripe fruit.

Hua Ling formed a hand seal, her eyes glowing gold. ”Golden Phoenix Flame!”

A torrent of golden fire erupted from her palms. It wasn’t the chaotic fire of a novice; it was a refined, holy flame that carried the phantom screech of a phoenix. Having consumed the Golden Essence Phoenix Fruit four months ago and spent the time stabilizing her foundation at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Hua Ling’s control was impeccable.

Hua Yimei didn’t dodge. She raised her hand, and a wall of identical golden fire rose up to meet her daughter’s attack. The two flames collided, roaring like beasts, the temperature in the courtyard spiking hot enough to melt common iron.

Wang Jian watched from the shaded veranda, lounging on a wide chair carved from spirit-wood, a goblet of chilled spirit-wine in his hand. His dark eyes tracked every movement, not just analyzing their combat proficiency, but devouring the view with the hunger of a dragon guarding its hoard.

’Beautiful,’ Wang Jian thought, taking a slow sip of wine, letting the liquid cool his throat. ’The mother and the daughter, fighting with the flames I gave them. They are magnificent.’

He admired the way the flames illuminated the sweat glistening on Hua Yimei’s skin. As she moved to deflect a strike, her massive breasts bounced with a heavy, hypnotic rhythm. He could see the glint of gold beneath the sheer fabric of her bodice—the nipple piercings he had forced her to get two months ago. They were exquisite, tear-drop shaped emeralds dangling from gold rings that pierced her sensitive nipples, weighing them down, a constant, secret reminder of her status as his slut. Every time she moved, the jewelry would brush against the silk, sending waves of stimulation through her body that she had to ignore to keep fighting.

And lower, in the exposed diamond of her midriff, a ruby-encrusted chain hung from her navel piercing, swaying with her movements, drawing the eye to her womb—the womb he had claimed so many times.

Hua Ling, too, had a piercing, though hers was only on her navel—a simple, heart-shaped gold stud that caught the sunlight. As his concubine and wife, she was spared the nipple piercings, a distinction of status that Wang Jian enforced to maintain the hierarchy, even if he enjoyed corrupting her mind just as thoroughly.

”Enough,” Wang Jian said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a weight of absolute command that cut through the roar of the flames instantly.

The fire vanished. Both women stopped, panting heavily, their chests heaving.

Hua Yimei smoothed her hair, her face flushed from the exertion and the constant stimulation of her piercings. She walked over to Wang Jian, her hips swaying with a natural, provocative rhythm that she had developed over months of serving him. Hua Ling followed, her eyes shining with the need for his approval.

”How did we do, Husband?” Hua Ling asked, beaming, wiping sweat from her forehead.

”Excellent,” Wang Jian praised, setting his cup down. He reached out and pulled Hua Ling onto his left knee and Hua Yimei onto his right. The difference in their weight and texture was distinct—Ling’er was firm and light, Yimei was soft, heavy, and yielding.

”Your control over the Golden Phoenix Flame has stabilized,” Wang Jian noted, running his hand up Hua Ling’s bare thigh, his thumb brushing the hem of her short dress. ”At the Peak of Foundation Establishment, you can already threaten an Early Core Formation cultivator with that heat. You have done well, my little bird.”

He turned to Hua Yimei. His hand didn’t go to her thigh; it went straight to her breast. He cupped the massive weight through the silk, his thumb finding the hard shape of the piercing beneath the fabric. He tugged on the ring through the cloth, twisting it sharply.

”Ah!” Hua Yimei gasped, a jolt of sharp pleasure-pain shooting through her chest. Her body slumped against him instinctively, her nipples hardening instantly against the jewelry.

”And you, Sect Leader,” Wang Jian whispered, his lips brushing her ear. ”You held back. You didn’t want to hurt her.”

”She is... my daughter,” Hua Yimei whispered, her face burning as he toyed with her pierced nipple in front of Hua Ling. ”And she has improved greatly. I did not want to discourage her.”

Hua Ling saw Wang Jian fondling her mother, saw her mother’s flushed reaction, and instead of jealousy, she felt a twisted sense of relief and gratitude. In her mind, shaped by Wang Jian’s manipulations, her mother was bearing the brunt of Wang Jian’s rougher, darker desires so that she, Ling’er, could remain the cherished wife. She saw her mother’s degradation as a sacrifice for her own happiness.

Hua Ling leaned over and kissed Hua Yimei’s cheek. ”Thank you, Mother,” she whispered earnestly. ”For training with me. And... for taking care of Husband’s needs so diligently.”

Hua Yimei’s heart twisted. She looked at her innocent daughter, then at the man who owned them both. ”It is... my duty, Ling’er.”

Wang Jian laughed, the sound vibrating in his chest. ”Indeed. You both serve me well.”

He looked out at the courtyard where three other women were waiting, standing in a respectful line.

Mu Lianhua stood with her hands folded into her sleeves. Her aura was completely retracted, making her look like a mortal, but Wang Jian knew the terrifying power she held. As a Peak Late-Stage Core Formation expert, her Azure Sky Heart Burning Flame—now merged with the Golden Phoenix Flame she had absorbed a year ago—was a force of nature.

Beside her were Chen Ying and Liu Ruyan. Both had successfully broken through to the Early Stage of the Core Formation Realm. Chen Ying stood like a sword, cold and sharp. Liu Ruyan radiated a suppressed heat. Her Blood Spirit Flame, also a Heavenly Flame, had mutated with the Phoenix essence into a Crimson Spirit Phoenix Flame, aggressive and volatile.

They, too, wore the modified robes Wang Jian insisted upon within the pavilion’s privacy arrays.

Mu Lianhua wore a robe of sheer green gauze that left nothing to the imagination. Her large breasts were visible, adorned with intricate, flower-shaped nipple shields pierced through the flesh. A gold chain connected her nipples to a collar around her neck.

Chen Ying’s ice-blue dress had a slit down the chest held together by thin chains, revealing the silver bar piercings on her modest, athletic breasts.

Liu Ruyan’s red robes were practically sheer, showcasing the heart-shaped piercings on her ample chest and the complex chain connecting her navel ring to her intimate area beneath the skirt, tugging with every step she took.

”The preparations are complete?” Wang Jian asked, addressing Mu Lianhua.

”Yes, Master,” Mu Lianhua replied, bowing deeply, the chain on her chest chiming softly. ”The spirit boat is stocked. The resources are loaded. We are ready to depart for Azure Cloud City.”

”Good,” Wang Jian nodded. He squeezed Hua Yimei’s breast one last time, enjoying her stifled moan, then gently pushed both women off his lap. He stood up, his black robes billowing.

”It is time to leave,” Wang Jian declared. ”The Myriad Reefs Sea Domain has been stagnant for too long. We are going to stir the waters.”

Just as he was about to give the order to move, a spiritual fluctuation rippled through the outer perimeter of the courtyard’s array.

Wang Jian’s expression shifted instantly. He held up a hand. ”Lingshan is coming.”

The atmosphere in the courtyard changed in a heartbeat. The lazy, erotic tension evaporated, replaced by a frantic, disciplined urgency.

”Change. Now,” Wang Jian commanded.

The women moved with a speed that blurred the eye. This was a drill they had practiced. They could not let Yue Lingshan, the unsuspecting First Wife, see them in their degradation. She knew nothing of the harem, nothing of the piercings, nothing of the slavery. To her, they were elders, sisters, and leaders.

Hua Yimei’s hand flashed over her storage ring. In a swirl of spiritual energy, the sexy crimson cheongsam vanished. In its place, the heavy, multi-layered purple and gold ceremonial robes of the Sect Leader appeared. She buttoned the high collar rapidly, hiding the marks on her neck and the heaving of her chest. Her flushed, lustful expression smoothed out into a mask of regal benevolence. She stood straighter, her aura shifting from ’slut’ to ’matriarch’.

Mu Lianhua spun around, mist covering her body for a split second. The sheer green gauze was replaced by the modest, thick robes of the Head Alchemist. She adjusted her sleeves, hiding her hands, her expression turning serene and aloof.

Chen Ying donned her heavy azure armor and a cloak, hiding the straps and chains. Her face became a mask of cold indifference, the perfect Sword Elder.

Liu Ruyan covered her red sheer robes with a heavy alchemist’s apron and a high-collared coat.

Only Hua Ling remained somewhat as she was, though she threw a shawl over her shoulders to be more modest. As the acknowledged concubine, she didn’t need to hide her affection, only her knowledge of the others’ depravity.

By the time Yue Lingshan walked through the moon-gate entrance of the courtyard, the scene had transformed. It was no longer a harem of sex slaves; it was a gathering of the sect’s highest powers discussing strategy.

”Husband,” Yue Lingshan said, smiling warmly as she approached. She wore a simple but elegant white robe, her hair pinned up with a jade hairpin. She looked every inch the virtuous Dao Companion.

”Lingshan,” Wang Jian smiled, stepping forward to take her hands. ”You caught us just as we were finalizing the travel route.”

Yue Lingshan looked around the group. She saw Sect Leader Hua Yimei standing with dignity, Elder Mu Lianhua looking wise and calm, and Elder Chen Ying standing guard.

”Sect Leader,” Yue Lingshan bowed respectfully to Hua Yimei.

”Madam Wang,” Hua Yimei replied, her voice steady and polite, bowing back slightly. ”We were just discussing the dangers of the route to Azure Cloud City. Your husband’s safety is our priority.”

Wang Jian watched the interaction, an internal smirk hidden behind his concerned expression. It was a masterpiece of deception. The woman bowing to his wife was the same woman who had been licking his boots an hour ago.

”I have checked the defensive arrays on the spirit boat myself,” Yue Lingshan said, turning to Wang Jian. ”They are fully charged. You should have no trouble with sky-beasts.”

”You are thorough as always, my love,” Wang Jian said, kissing her cheek. ”I will be counting on you to guard the home base. With Ruyan refining pills and you controlling the grand formation, the sect will be impenetrable.”

”I will not fail you,” Yue Lingshan promised. She looked at Hua Ling. ”Ling’er, what about you? Are you going? ”

”I will stay here, Sister Lingshan,” Hua Ling said, pouting slightly. ”Husband said I must atleast be a Core Formation Realm before I can travel.”

”He is right,” Yue Lingshan nodded. She turned back to Wang Jian. ”When will you return?”

”In a month or two,” Wang Jian said. ”Once we have the pill recipes and the resources.”

”Go then,” Yue Lingshan said. ”Don’t let me delay you.”

She stood by the gate, waving as Wang Jian, Hua Yimei, and Chen Ying walked toward the path leading to the secret docks.

Wang Jian played the role perfectly until the very last second. He walked with the measured stride of an Elder, respectful of the Sect Leader walking beside him.

They boarded the spirit boat—a sleek, medium-sized vessel crafted from Wind-Spirit Wood, designed for speed and luxury.

As the boat ascended, punching through the cloud layer and accelerating away from the Isle of Whispering Petals, the silhouette of the sect disappeared below them.

Wang Jian watched until the protective array of the sect faded from view. He checked the distance. They were miles away. Yue Lingshan could no longer see them.

He turned around. The polite smile vanished from his face, replaced by a cold, predatory grin. He sat down on the wide, cushioned throne on the main deck.

”Drop the act,” Wang Jian commanded.

Instantly, the atmosphere on the boat shattered.

Hua Yimei and Chen Ying didn’t just bow; they dropped to their knees.

”Master,” they breathed in unison.

”Take them off,” Wang Jian ordered, gesturing to the heavy robes. ”I hate looking at those stuffy rags. I want to see my property.”

Hua Yimei stood up and unclasped her heavy ceremonial robes. They fell to the deck with a heavy thud. Underneath, she wasn’t wearing the crimson cheongsam from earlier. She was wearing something far lewder for the journey.

It was a gown of translucent black lace, backless and dipping low in the front to expose the golden phoenix tattoo he had branded on her skin. Her nipples, pierced with the heavy gold teardrops, pushed against the lace, fully visible to the air. Her navel piercing glittered, connected by a fine gold chain to a clamp he knew was attached to her clitoris beneath the lace skirt.

Chen Ying stripped off her armor. Underneath, she wore a collection of white silk straps that barely qualified as a dress, designed to highlight her toned, athletic physique. Her nipples were pierced with silver bars, and a silver chain connected her navel ring to a leather collar around her neck.

”Much better,” Wang Jian purred. ”Come here.”

They approached. Wang Jian reached out and hooked his finger through the chain connecting Chen Ying’s navel to her collar. He tugged it gently. The tension pulled on her neck and her stomach simultaneously, forcing her to arch her back.

”Your cultivation has stabilized well, Ying’er,” Wang Jian murmured, pulling her down so she sat by his leg, resting her head on his knee like a faithful hound. ”The sword intent in your Core is sharp.”

”It is all thanks to the Master’s guidance,” Chen Ying whispered, closing her eyes as he stroked her hair.

Wang Jian looked at Hua Yimei. ”And you, Yimei. The map.”

Hua Yimei hurried to the low table in front of him, spreading out a large navigational chart of the Myriad Reefs Sea Domain. She leaned over the table to point, knowing exactly what view she was giving him. Her massive breasts hung heavy in the lace bodice, the piercings dragging the nipples down slightly, swaying like pendulums.

”We are here,” Hua Yimei said, pointing to a small island chain, her voice professional despite her attire. ”Azure Cloud City is located here, in the central belt of the domain. It is a neutral territory, controlled by the Myriad Ocean Palace but operated as a free trade zone. It is the heart of commerce for thousands of miles.”

”Three weeks,” Wang Jian mused, his eyes tracing the route not on the map, but on the curve of her exposed spine. ”Tell me about the auction.”

”The Golden-Scale Auction House,” Hua Yimei recited. ”It is held once every ten years. This year is special. Rumors say they have acquired a fragment of a Heaven-Earth Spirit Root.”

”Spirit Roots are boring,” Wang Jian dismissed, reaching out to trace the phoenix tattoo on her back. ”I have a tree full of them. What else?”

”Pill recipes,” Hua Yimei said, shivering as his finger trailed down to her buttocks. ”Ancient recipes from the ruins of the Sunken Grotto. And... rumors of a Heavenly Flame seed.”

Wang Jian’s interest piqued slightly. ”And the people? Who runs this place?”

”The Mistress of the Golden-Scale Auction House,” Hua Yimei said. ”Her name is Shangguan Wan’er. She is a woman of mystery. Cultivation base is confirmed at the Late Stage of the Core Formation Realm, possibly Peak. She is known for her beauty and her ruthlessness. No one dares to cause trouble in her city.”

”Shangguan Wan’er,” Wang Jian tested the name, liking the sound of it. ”Late Stage Core Formation. Beautiful. Ruthless. Sounds like a challenge.”

He looked at Yimei, grabbing a handful of her lace skirt and pulling it up to inspect the chain mechanism underneath. ”And the other sects?”

”The Ice-Heart Sect will be there,” Hua Yimei warned, her breath hitching as he tugged the chain. ”They are the strongest Righteous sect in the northern quadrant. Their cultivation technique freezes the emotions. Their current Holy Maiden, Leng Yue, is said to be a genius who formed a Core at twenty-five. They usually attend to buy ice-attribute treasures. They have a legacy of Nascent Soul ancestors.”

”Ice-Heart,” Wang Jian smirked. ”Frozen emotions. I wonder what happens when you melt them with fire and lust.”

”And the Violet-Thunder Valley,” Chen Ying added from the floor, her voice low. ”The strongest male-dominated sect. They are brutes. They cultivate lightning body tempering. Their Young Master, Lei Zhen, is arrogant and violent. He will likely be there.”

”Good,” Wang Jian nodded. ”Arrogant young masters are usually carrying the most treasure. And their fiancees are often neglected.”

He leaned back, looking at the two beautiful, powerful women serving him.

”We are going there to do business,” Wang Jian said. ”But not the kind they expect. The Myriad Reefs Sea Region is backward in alchemy. They still use the barbarian method of crushing beast cores to make pills. It’s inefficient and full of impurities.”

He reached into his storage ring and pulled out a jade bottle. ”The pills Mu Lianhua concocts... the legacy of the Crimson Pill Sect... they use medicinal herbs to refine the essence. They are purer, stronger, and have no side effects. To these people, this is a revolution. Since the Crimson Pill Sect was from a different continent entirely, no one here will recognize the technique.”

”We will sell these?” Hua Yimei asked, looking back at him over her shoulder.

”We will flood the market,” Wang Jian corrected. ”We will trade these pills for rare herbs I don’t have, for artifacts, and for information. Wealth is power, Yimei. And I intend to be the richest man in this sea.”

He paused, his eyes gleaming with a dark light. ”But wealth is just a tool. The real prize... is talent.”

He reached out and grabbed Hua Yimei’s nipple ring between his thumb and forefinger. He twisted it sharply.

”Ah!” Hua Yimei gasped, her body arching, her hands gripping the table. The pain was sharp, distinct, but it was followed instantly by a wave of pleasure as her conditioned body reacted to the abuse.

”I am bored of the local flavors,” Wang Jian said, pulling on the ring until her breast distorted. ”I want to taste the Ice-Heart Sect. I want to see if the Mistress of the Auction House is as ruthless in bed as she is in business.”

He released the ring and slapped her breast, watching the flesh jiggle.

”You will help me, Yimei. You know the etiquette. You know the players. You will be the bait.”

”Yes, Master,” Hua Yimei breathed, her eyes hazy with arousal. ”I will do whatever you want. I will be your lure.”

”Good,” Wang Jian said. ”Now, the journey is long. And I find myself in need of... calibration.”

He looked at Chen Ying. ”Check the perimeter. Activate the privacy barrier.”

Chen Ying nodded, standing up and moving to the control console. She pressed a sequence of runes. A shimmering dome covered the deck, blurring their forms from the outside world and blocking any sound.

”Barrier active,” Chen Ying reported, turning back to him.

”Excellent,” Wang Jian said. He undid his robe, revealing his arousal. ”Chen Ying, come here. I need to check the stability of your new Core. I worry the sword intent might be too sharp for your meridians.”

It was a blatant excuse, but Chen Ying accepted it eagerly. She walked over, her hips swaying, the chains chiming softly. She climbed onto his lap, straddling him. She didn’t lower herself immediately. She hovered, teasing him.

Wang Jian reached up and grabbed the silver bars piercing her nipples. He pulled her down.

She sank onto him with a gasp. ”Oh... Master...”

Hua Yimei watched, her breath hitching. She moved to the side, picking up the wine jug. She poured a cup, waiting for her turn, watching her sister-in-arms ride their master.

”Look at her, Yimei,” Wang Jian commanded, gripping Chen Ying’s hips and driving upwards. ”Look at how tight she is. A sword sheath.”

”She is... beautiful, Master,” Hua Yimei whispered, stepping closer. She brought the wine cup to his lips, her breasts hovering inches from his face.

Wang Jian drank, his eyes never leaving Chen Ying’s flushed face. ”You’re next, Yimei. I want to see how your Phoenix Flame reacts when I stretch you open on the railing.”

The spirit boat cut through the clouds, speeding toward Azure Cloud City, carrying a cargo of revolutionary pills and a trio of cultivators who were about to upend the balance of power in the entire region.

Three weeks later.

The horizon was dominated by a sight that defied gravity.

Azure Cloud City.

It was not an island in the ocean, but a massive landmass floating three thousand feet above the sea level, suspended by ancient, colossal anti-gravity arrays. Waterfalls cascaded from the edges of the floating city, turning into mist before they hit the ocean below, creating the perpetual rainbows and clouds that gave the city its name.

Ships flew in and out of the massive aerial docks like bees around a hive. The city itself was a sprawling metropolis of white stone and gold, shining in the sun. It was a testament to the wealth and power of the Myriad Ocean Palace.

On the deck of their small spirit boat, Wang Jian stood at the prow. He had donned a mask—not a physical one, but a persona. He wore white robes, a fan in his hand, radiating the aura of a refined, righteous, and somewhat mysterious young master from a hidden clan. His cultivation was suppressed to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment—strong enough to be respected, weak enough to be underestimated.

Behind him stood Hua Yimei. She had put her ceremonial robes back on, covering the piercings and the tattoos. She radiated the dignified, powerful aura of a Middle Stage Core Formation Sect Leader. To the world, she was the authority here.

And beside her was Chen Ying, dressed in the azure armor of a personal guard, her hand on her sword, her expression icy.

”We have arrived,” Wang Jian said softly, looking at the floating city. ”The hunting ground.”

He smiled, but his eyes were scanning the layout, looking at the flow of Qi, dissecting the formations. He saw the potential, the wealth, and the women.

”Let’s go,” he whispered. ”The auction awaits.”