Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist Chapter 959: Thundering Amber Isle

Sunlight from the afternoon streamed in through the tall, curved windows of the Cloud-Peak Pavilion's secluded study, throwing elongated, patterned shadows over the glossy spirit-wood floor. Tiny specks of dust floated lazily in the golden rays, eddying through the hushed, tense air of the chamber. The fragrance of smoldering sandalwood incense lingered heavily, offering a soothing scent that concealed the sinister threads of intrigue being woven in this very space.

Seated at his enormous desk was Wang Jian, his stance casual but authoritative. His attire consisted of robes in a rich navy hue, adorned with silver star patterns that appeared to move and gleam with each breath he took—evidence of his advancing mastery in the Stellar Demonic Meridian Scripture. In front of him was Hua Ling, the Young Sect Mistress from the Fragrance Melody Sect.

In the months that had passed, she had matured greatly. The innocent young lady once shattered by the harsh realities of the cultivation realm had vanished, giving way to a determined woman whose eyes held a firmer resolve and whose presence pulsed with the might of the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Realm. Still, when her gaze met Wang Jian's, that resolve softened instantly, yielding to a devotion so intense it verged on reverence.

"You summoned me, Young Master Wang?" Hua Ling inquired, her tone gentle, her fingers intertwined in a show of respect.

"I did, Ling’er," Wang Jian responded, his words kind and welcoming. He motioned for her to draw near the chart laid out on his desk. "Come closer, take a look."

Hua Ling circled the desk, positioning herself so near that the fabric of her white practice robe grazed his sleeve. Her eyes dropped to the map below. It depicted the treacherous seas in the eastern part of the Myriad Reefs Sea Domain. One particular island was marked with a bold red circle: The Thundering Amber Isle.

"The Thundering Amber Isle," Hua Ling whispered, identifying the location. "Such a hazardous spot. The tempests rage without end, and the bolts of lightning carry a tangible force."

"Hazardous, indeed," Wang Jian concurred, swiveling his chair a bit to regard her. "Yet it remains the sole confirmed source of the Thunder-Heart Grass."

Hua Ling's eyes grew wide. "Thunder-Heart Grass? But... isn't that a herb thought to be gone forever?"

"Scarce, but not vanished," Wang Jian clarified with mild patience. "Elder Mu has delved into old alchemy formulas. She thinks she's uncovered one—the Nine-Revolution Core Cleansing Pill. This elixir is crafted to steady and broaden the dantian for a cultivator at the Early Stage Core Formation. It might be the solution, Ling’er. The solution to aid your mother's advance to the Middle Stage."

A sharp intake of breath escaped Hua Ling. Her mother, Sect Leader Hua Yimei, had lingered at the Early Stage for almost ten years. The burdens of leading the sect and resisting the Demonic forces had hindered her progress. An advancement would secure the Fragrance Melody Sect's protection for generations to come.

"If... if this holds true," Hua Ling stuttered, her fingers quivering with eagerness, "then we have to obtain it! I'll request the Elders form a search party right away!"

"No," Wang Jian stated, denying with a gradual shake of his head. "A big effort won't work. Blood Shark Hall's informants are everywhere. Sending a large group would alert them to our pursuit of something precious, and they'd block us. We require a compact, skilled unit. Reliable individuals. Powerful enough to endure the conditions, yet discreet to avoid attracting the Core Formation beasts."

His gaze locked onto hers intently. "I considered you."

"Me?" Hua Ling indicated herself with a finger.

"You've become powerful, Ling’er," Wang Jian declared, his tone brimming with approval. "Middle Stage achievement. You require battle trials to solidify your base. And what could be more fitting than a devoted daughter fetching a boon for her mother?"

A wave of feelings washed over Hua Ling. He placed faith in her. He acknowledged her capabilities. And he offered her a chance to assist her mother. "I... I'll handle it! I refuse to fail you, Young Master!"

"I trust you won't," Wang Jian grinned. "But you're not going solo. Senior Sister Chen Ying will join as your protector. Plus, I'll detail three Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Elders for backup. The dangers on the island mainly involve Third Order Sea Monsters. Chen Ying's presence ensures your safety."

Hua Ling bobbed her head eagerly. "I'll get ready at once!"

"Hold on," Wang Jian uttered quietly. He extended his arm and grasped her hand, drawing her nearer. "Before you depart... step over here. Allow me to examine your meridians. The lightning qi there is treacherous. An unstable heart meridian might cause severe repercussions."

The excuse seemed thin, yet for Hua Ling, his commands were absolute. She positioned herself between his parted legs, right before him. "Is... is there an issue with my cultivation?"

"You've overexerted yourself," Wang Jian murmured. His broad palms settled on her shoulders. He sensed the tightness in her frame. He started to work the muscles, his thumbs pressing into the stiff spots.

A quiet exhale slipped from Hua Ling, her chin tilting upward a touch. "It... it feels nice."

Wang Jian's palms drifted downward. They glided from her shoulders, tracing the line of her collarbone, and paused at her upper torso.

"The heart meridian links right here," he breathed, his tone lowering to a gravelly whisper.

His hands ventured lower still, enveloping the fullness of her breasts beneath the silken layers of her robes. They were ample, yielding, and weighty—a feature inherited from her mother. Wang Jian held them completely, his digits bending to gauge their heft.

Hua Ling's breathing faltered. A fierce blush spread across her cheeks. This... this went beyond any check-up. She realized it fully. Yet she stayed put. She was unable. The warmth from his touch penetrated her garb, sparking a blaze in her core that weakened her stance.

"Ease up," Wang Jian instructed in a gentle tone. "Allow the energy to circulate."

He proceeded to work her breasts thoroughly. He molded the pliant tissue, shaping it with his hands, his thumbs spiraling toward the stiffened tips of her nipples beneath the cloth. He tweaked them, starting light, then applying a playful firmness that shot sparks up her back.

"Ah! Young Master..." Hua Ling mewled, her grip tightening on his arms for balance. Her limbs quivered.

"You've developed so impressively," Wang Jian commended, his mouth grazing her ear while his hands pressed on boldly. "Stunning. Flawless. The sect's prized gem."

'So yielding,' Wang Jian mused inwardly, a sly curve forming on his mouth out of her sight. 'Like overripe fruits eager to be squeezed. Her form is primed. Her will is malleable. She is mine without question.'

"Ling’er," he murmured, lightly biting her earlobe. "Upon your return from this task... once you secure the herb and demonstrate your prowess... I'll discuss matters with Lingshan."

Hua Ling's eyes flew wide, clouded by desire and anticipation. "With... with Sister Yue?"

"Indeed," Wang Jian vowed, his grasp on her breasts intensifying, drawing a gasp from her. "I'll address her about formally welcoming you into our fold. As my consort."

The vow struck her like a lightning strike. To belong to him. Formally. To share his side not merely as a subordinate, but as his beloved.

"Do you truly mean it?" she gasped, twisting in his hold to face him, her gaze sparkling with joyful tears.

"I never deceive you," Wang Jian assured her effortlessly.

Hua Ling flung her arms around his neck, pressing her face into his torso. "I won't let you down! I'll fetch the herb! I'll show my worth!"

She drew back a little, her cheeks aflame yet her expression resolute. "And... and upon my return... Young Master... I desire you to claim me."

Wang Jian arched a brow. "Claim you?"

"My... my innocence," she confided, her words faint. "I wish to offer it to you. My love in this lifetime is yours alone. Please."

A rush of victory surged through Wang Jian. The blossom had opened and yearned to be taken. He trailed a hand along her spine, seizing her rear and drawing her pelvis to his, letting her sense the rigid proof of his arousal.

"You're testing my restraint, Ling’er," he rumbled. "But waiting refines the nectar. Prioritize your quest. Toying with your form suffices for the moment... yet on your return, I'll take it all."

He captured her lips in a profound, owning kiss, binding the pledge.

As Hua Ling departed the study at last, her complexion rosy, her attire rumpled, and her robes being straightened, she resembled a devotee embarking on a sacred quest. She would brave the abyss for him.

The door latched closed, and Wang Jian's demeanor altered in a flash. The kindness evaporated, supplanted by the icy strategy of a grand tactician.

From his spatial ring, he drew a transmission talisman.

"Chen Ying," he addressed it. "The pawn advances. Initiate phase two."

Elsewhere in the sect, amid the training fields, Chen Ying halted her trance. She accessed the transmission.

"Understood," she murmured.

She inspected her storage pouch. Within rested the Phoenix-Fire Defensive Array Disc, an exquisite creation by Yue Lingshan and bolstered with Mu Lianhua’s Core Formation essence. It formed an impenetrable shield against assaults that could raze an entire city.

She also examined her beast sack. The Black-Scaled Flood Serpent stirred uneasily, detecting the impending clash.

"Deploy the Serpent solely for endurance," Wang Jian's words resounded in her thoughts. "Avoid victory. Persist. Feign desperation."

Wang Jian then retrieved another talisman. This was shadowy, carved from dark jade. It linked to Su Ning, embedded in the Blood Shark Hall's depths.

"Su Ning," Wang Jian directed. "The objective stirs. Path Gamma-Nine. Target: Thundering Amber Isle. Guarantee the Crimson Shark gets the 'tip.' Convince him his spies uncovered it."

Far off, in a shadowy submerged grotto, Su Ning grinned. She approached the Blood Shark's main chamber, clutching a parchment.

"Old fiend," she pondered, her eyes glinting with wicked delight. "Your feast awaits. Don't let the bait snag you fatally."

The voyage to Thundering Amber Isle spanned three days. The Fragrance Melody Sect's grand vessel sliced the swells, its pale sails vivid against the glooming horizon. Entering the tempest area, the atmosphere thickened with charge. Golden thunder lanced the skies, slamming the waters with thunderous booms.

At the bow stood Hua Ling, her silver plating flashing in the bursts of illumination. Anxiety gripped her, but recollections of Wang Jian’s caress and his oath fueled her resolve, granting bravery.

Trailing her were three Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Elders—devoted sect members, oblivious to their fated doom. And next to them loomed Chen Ying, quiet as night, her palm on her blade's grip.

"We've reached it," an Elder yelled against the roar. "Thundering Amber Isle!"

The landmass was a rugged expanse of amber stone, perpetually battered by bolts. The foliage was thin, contorted, and charred.

"The Thunder-Heart Grass thrives in the heart crater," Hua Ling called out. "We advance swiftly! Anchor the vessel!"

The craft moored at a stony shore. The party stepped ashore, their footwear grinding on the charged pebbles.

"Stay vigilant," Chen Ying cautioned, her words hushed. "This place's power conceals aura shifts."

They pressed toward the interior. They scarcely hit the edge of the woods when the sea at their backs started to churn.

This wasn't ordinary bubbling. It signaled a huge displacement.

ROAAAAAR!

A rumble like a crumbling peak burst from the depths. An enormous form surged upward, unleashing a massive surge that battered the coast.

It was a shark. But no ordinary one. This was the Blood-Maw Megalodon, a Fifth Order creature rivaling a fortress in scale. Its hide bore scars and was ashen, its maw a gulf of jagged fangs that could pulverize spirit-steel.

Perched on the shark's crown, enveloped in a scarlet glow that deflected the strikes, was a figure. He was colossal, his flesh ashen, clad in armor forged from shark remains.

Old Monster Crimson Shark.

"Little Princess!" the Crimson Shark thundered, his cry boosted by his Core Formation prowess. "Did you believe you could slip into my domain unnoticed?"

Encircling the isle, the waves exploded. Scores of demonic cultivators from Blood Shark Hall and Iron-Blood Hall's survivors emerged, mounted on plated sharks. They encircled the land in moments.

"Ambush!" a Fragrance Melody Elder shrieked. "Shield the Young Mistress!"

"Slay the males! Seize the female!" Crimson Shark commanded, flicking his wrist casually.

The fiendish swarm assaulted.

Chaos erupted in a flash, savage and unrelenting. The trio of Fragrance Melody Elders fought valiantly, yet they confronted hordes of foes and a Middle-Stage Core Formation powerhouse.

Crimson Shark forwent any arms. He merely thrust at the void. A colossal punch of dense blood-qi barreled into the foremost Elder.

SPLAT.

The Elder burst apart. No chance for a cry.

"Formation! Hold the line!" the next Elder bellowed, but a barrage of blood-lances pierced him from every angle.

Hua Ling beheld the slaughter of her guardians in mere heartbeats, frozen in dread. Terror, icy and piercing, clawed at her chest. "No... no..."

"Act!" Chen Ying snapped, unsheathing her blade. "Snap to it!"

Hua Ling jolted back to reality. She called forth her jade zither. Her digits danced over the cords.

"Melody of the Raging Storm!"

She synced with the island's electric fury. Thunderbolts were pulled from above, blasting the demonic foes. The strike was formidable, scorching a dozen adversaries, but the numbers overwhelmed.

"Amusing," Crimson Shark scoffed. He vaulted from his Megalodon, impacting the shore with a quake that toppled Hua Ling. He strode her way, shrugging off the lightning on his blood-barrier. "You've got fire. I admire it. Makes your ruin all the sweeter."

His enormous palm stretched to seize her.

"Now!" Chen Ying yelled.

She struck her beast pouch.

HISSSSSSS!

The Black-Scaled Flood Serpent erupted out. It swelled to its maximum length in an instant, a century of sinew and hide. It pounced at the Crimson Shark, fangs clashing.

Crimson Shark recoiled in shock. "A Fifth Order beast?! The tales were accurate!"

He evaded, springing away. The Serpent crashed into his prior spot, fracturing the stone.

"Flee! To the caverns!" Chen Ying seized Hua Ling's wrist and yanked her upright. "The Serpent won't detain him indefinitely!"

"But the Elders..." Hua Ling wept, glancing at the fallen.

"They're gone! Run or perish with them!" Chen Ying hauled her toward the central rise.

The demonic masses sought to block, but the Flood Serpent lashed out ferociously, its whip-like tail generating blasts that parted the crowd. It unleashed water blasts that tore through enemy lines.

Still, the Blood-Maw Megalodon entered the melee. It charged from the surf, grounding to chomp the Serpent. The colossal creatures clashed in a monumental brawl, quaking the terrain.

Chen Ying and Hua Ling attained the cave opening midway up the volcanic slope. It served as a natural bottleneck.

"In! Fast!"

They clambered into the shadowy orifice. Once beyond the entry, Chen Ying whirled. She produced a crimson crystal plate—the Phoenix-Fire Defensive Array Disc.

She channeled her Qi.

HUMMMMMM.

A shield of churning flames and gales burst over the entrance. It hardened into a see-through vault, enclosing them.

Moments after, a blood surge from the Crimson Shark collided with the shield.

BOOM!

The cavern trembled, debris cascading from above. Yet the shield endured. The Phoenix Fire devoured the tainted blood qi on impact.

"A Turtle Shell Formation?" Crimson Shark's roar resounded from beyond, laced with fury. "You imagine this saves you? I'll hammer this rock to rubble until no refuge remains!"

Within the cavern, the onslaught's din was overwhelming. The shield blazed at each strike, lighting the frightened visages of the escaped female disciples who had followed them.

Hua Ling slumped against the wall, clutching her legs. She shuddered without cease. The sight of the Elder's demise seared her thoughts.

"We... we're cornered," she murmured. "He's a Middle Stage Core Formation master. No way out."

Chen Ying positioned herself by the shield, her features stern. She withdrew the Flood Serpent to its pouch from afar (a technique from Wang Jian), abandoning the exterior to peril but preserving the creature from defeat.

"The array lasts a few days," Chen Ying fibbed, feigning exhaustion in her voice. Truthfully, she knew it could resist a month's assault. "But it drains Qi rapidly. We require aid."

"Aid?" Hua Ling lifted her head, desperation battling faint hope. "Who reaches us? We're isolated..."

"The Sect Leader," Chen Ying replied. "Signal her now."

Hua Ling groped for the jade slip Wang Jian provided. Her tremors nearly caused it to slip away.

"Mother..." she cried. "Mother, help..."

She shattered the slip.

An unseen ray of spirit energy lanced from the cave, breaching the shield and storm veil, relaying a cry of pure dread over the waves.

In the Fragrance Melody Sect's Orchid Palace, Sect Leader Hua Yimei conferred with her inner elders when the soul-token on her belt fractured.

She stiffened. Her complexion faded to ghostly white.

"Sect Leader?" an elder queried.

Hua Yimei rose abruptly, her seat overturning. "Ling’er..."

The urgent plea inundated her senses. Mother! Trap! Thundering Amber Isle! Core Formation foes! Mighty beasts! We're besieged!

Frantic fear, raw and unyielding, gripped her. Her girl. Her sole heir. Snared by fiends.

"Launch the warship!" she howled, her poise crumbling. "No... the vessel's too sluggish!"

She ignored the elders. She r