The system alert faded from my vision like smoke, but its words hung heavy in my mind. Immortal Sect scouts in the grove?
Great. Just what we needed after a night of breakthroughs and bonding—more assholes trying to ruin my morning wood.
I shook my head, glancing at the door where Lin Yue had stormed off, her ass swaying in those tight jeans like a deliberate tease.
Mei Ling lingered a second longer, her apron barely covering anything, before following with a shy smile. Damn, these women were gonna be the death of me... or the making of an empire.
I hauled myself out of bed, muscles still humming from the overflow vitality.
The palace responded to my thoughts—a luxurious bath chamber materialized nearby, steam rising from a deep marble tub filled with crystal-clear water infused with healing herbs.
I stripped down—again—and sank in, the heat soaking into my pores like liquid qi. As the water worked its magic, I pulled up the system menu, scrolling through the upgrades I’d racked up from last night’s marathon.
[System Status Update:]
[Host: Zhao Tianlong]
[Age: Reformed (Physical: 25 Equivalent)]
[Vitality: 5,500/5,000 (Overflow Mode Active - Lifespan: +100 Years)]
[Harem Points: 3,200]
[Bonded Partners:]
- Mei Ling: 100% Loyalty (Core Formation, Nature Affinity - Eternal Wife Bond)
- Lin Yue: 85% Loyalty (Peak Foundation Establishment - Rivalrous Bond Unlocked: Jealousy may fuel strength but risks conflict)
[New Upgrades Available:]
- Harem Management Aura (Cost: 500 HP) - Reduces jealousy by 30%, converts rivalry into cooperative boosts.
- Dual Essence Link (Cost: 800 HP) - Share affinities between partners (e.g., grant partial Nature Affinity to Lin Yue).
Tempting. The jealousy thing was already bubbling—Lin’s little outburst this morning screamed it. But I held off, saving points for whatever shitstorm was coming.
Instead, I upgraded something practical: [Sensory Expansion] for 300 HP—heightened awareness in natural environments, tying into my partial Nature Affinity from Mei’s breakthrough. Felt like vines wrapping around my senses, sharpening everything.
As I soaked, the palace’s mirrors fogged up, but not before I caught my reflection again—that chiseled jaw, black hair falling like a warrior’s mane, eyes sharp enough to cut through bullshit. No more old man. I was Zhao Tianlong 2.0, and it felt fucking good.
Fifteen minutes later, I stepped out, drying off with a thought-summoned towel. The wardrobe spat out fresh clothes: black cultivator robes with golden dragon embroidery, form-fitting but flexible for combat. Slid them on, feeling the qi weave into the fabric like armor.
My cock, still half-hard from the morning sights, settled comfortably—Infinite Stamina meant it was always ready, but I reined it in. Business first.
I headed to the main chamber, where breakfast waited. Mei Ling had set the table, but she and Lin Yue were nowhere in sight. Probably training or... arguing. I ate quick—those buns were divine, qi-infused to boost recovery—and pinged the system for a grove scan.
[System Scan: Whispering Grove]
[Threat Detected: 5 Immortal Sect Scouts (Foundation Establishment Peak) - Approaching from northwest, 2 miles out. Intent: Search and Destroy.]
[Opportunity: Ambush viable. Use Nature Harmony for advantage.]
Showtime. I stepped outside the palace, willing it back to bracelet form on my wrist. The grove was alive—trees whispering secrets, vines curling like they recognized me now.
Activating Nature Harmony, I felt the forest sync with my qi: roots shifting subtly underfoot, leaves rustling to mask sounds. Partial Nature Affinity from Mei kicked in too—vines responded to my will, ready to ensnare.
"Mei! Lin!" I called, voice carrying through the trees. They emerged from a side path, both flushed from sparring. Mei in her pencil skirt, looking every bit the seductive maid; Lin in those jeans, warrior-hot. "We’ve got company. Sect scouts. Five of them."
Lin Yue’s bow was out in a flash, eyes narrowing. "Let them come. I’ve been itching for a real fight."
Mei Ling’s hands glowed blue, her new Core Formation power humming. "Husband... how do we play this?"
I grinned, pulling them close—one arm around each waist, feeling their curves press in. The contact sparked:
[Group Intimacy Boost: Vitality +10]
[Harem Points +5]
"Ambush. I’ll draw them in with the forest. You two flank. Mei, barriers and nature traps—use your affinity. Lin, pick them off from range. We take one alive for info on Chen and Xiao."
They nodded, determination lighting their faces. Mei blushed at "husband," but Lin just rolled her eyes—though I caught her leaning into my touch a second longer.
We set up quick: I hid in the underbrush, willing vines to camouflage us. The scouts approached—cloaked figures in Sect robes, qi signatures sharp and hostile. They were chatting low: "The old emperor’s signal vanished here. And that rebel bitch with him."
"Find them. The Elder wants the women alive—for questioning."
My blood boiled. Questioning, my ass. Time to end this.
I triggered Nature Harmony—a root burst from the ground, tripping the lead scout. He stumbled, cursing, and Lin’s arrow took him through the eye—
Thunk!
Dead before he hit the dirt.
[Combat Kill: Vitality +15]
Chaos erupted. The remaining four scattered, qi flaring. Mei channeled her affinity—vines erupted like whips, wrapping one scout’s legs and yanking him down. I lunged from cover, slamming a qi-infused fist into his chest, cracking ribs.
[Essence Absorption: Vitality +20]
Lin picked off another with a headshot, her jeans stretching taut as she drew—distracting even in battle. The third scout blasted at Mei, but her barrier held, glowing green with nature qi. She countered with a palm strike, vines coiling around his neck—
Snap!
The last one tried to flee, but I was faster—Beast Taming Aura disoriented him, making him stagger. Lin’s arrow pinned his leg; Mei’s vines bound him tight.
We dragged him back to the palace, now expanded again. He spat defiance: "The Sect will crush you!"
I smirked, activating Aphrodisiac Emission—mild dose to loosen his tongue. His eyes glazed. "Where’s Zhao Chen?"
He babbled: "Scattered to the Shadow Realm... with the boy. Elder Feng’s leading the hunt."
Perfect. We snapped his neck—clean kill.
[System Reward: Mission Partial Complete - Location Acquired]
[Vitality +50]
[Harem Points +100]
But as we planned our next move, a bigger rumble shook the grove—more ships on the horizon. Feng was closing in.
"Time to move," I said, narrowing my gaze, "Come on Elder... can’t even stay away from me?"