[: 3rd POV :]
"If you accept the invitation, please drop blood onto the invitation card."
Her trembling hands clutched the golden card as if it might vanish at any moment.
She bit down on her thumb, the sharp sting making her flinch, and a bead of crimson welled up.
With a deep breath, she let it drip onto the invitation.
The instant her blood touched its surface, the card shimmered, then, without warning, a swirling portal burst open before her.
"!?"
She staggered back, her heart pounding against her ribs.
The air crackled with a strange, powerful energy, and the sight was so unreal that her breath caught in her throat.
Her eyes widened, glistening as the glow reflected in them.
'It's… real? Not a cruel joke?'
Her chest tightened as something warm, something she hadn't felt in years, began to rise within her.
And that was Hope.
Hands still shaking, she stepped forward.
Every part of her screamed that this was her chance, the only chance she might ever have.
Gathering every shred of courage left in her, she took a final breath, closed her eyes, and stepped into the portal.
On the other hand, Daniel was exploring his newfound sect when the system prompted him to the arrival of his first soon-to-be disciple.
[: The Host's first potential disciple has arrived outside the gate of the sect :]
"Already?"
It had only been a few minutes since he sent the card, and now, his first disciple had arrived.
At the same time, he was excited about his first disciple and wondered what the outcome would be.
He walked towards the gate, and automatically, the gates opened by themselves.
"How Convenient" He muttered with a smile.
As it finally opened, his first disciple had appeared.
"Welcome to the Heavenly Harem Sect," He greeted with a smile.
"U-Um…"
Her voice trembled as her gaze lifted to the man in flowing white robes.
When she had first arrived outside the gate, she'd been rooted in place, her breath caught in her throat.
The massive doors loomed before her, radiating an unseen pressure that felt like a hundred unseen beasts waiting to devour her whole.
Her legs felt weak, her fingers cold, yet her eyes kept drifting up to take in the grandeur.
It was a place that could rival the most prestigious sects she had only heard about in whispers.
But she hadn't dared to step inside.
She lingered there, clutching her worn clothes, unsure how to proceed, until the gates opened and Daniel himself appeared.
"I assume you've received the card, young lady?"
From the moment he laid eyes on her, Daniel could see it, the thinness of her frame, the hesitance in her posture.
This was someone who had lived on scraps, someone who had endured hunger more often than warmth.
His tone softened, careful, as though even the faintest harshness might shatter her completely.
"Y-Yes… I have received the card… but is it true?"
Her voice wavered, eyes glistening with the weight of her desperation.
"Could I… really become a cultivator if I join this sect?"
Her vision blurred as tears threatened to spill.
For years, she had wandered through life unseen, unwanted—and now, someone was offering her a place.
"Yes," Daniel said without hesitation.
"Everything is true. And the only requirement… is that you pledge your loyalty, your heart, your mind, and your body to me."
He met her gaze firmly, but with warmth.
"Do you wish to accept it?"
The system's ultimate purpose was clear: to build a harem sect solely for him.
Daniel saw no point in hiding it.
It was better to be upfront about his expectations of his disciples.
Within this sect, they would have the chance to obtain strength, resources, and treasures beyond imagination… but nothing came without a price.
And in this sect, that price was bound to the concept of a harem.
"You can have anything you desire," he stated plainly, "but there is one rule—you must devote yourself entirely to me."
His gaze sharpened, his tone carrying a quiet warning.
"Are you prepared to live a life where your very existence is pledged to me? If you're not ready, then this is not the place for you."
She listened in silence, absorbing each word.
And yet, even knowing the conditions, her decision did not waver.
"I accept. I pledge my life, my body, my mind, and my heart to this sect."
Dropping to her knees, she pressed her forehead against the ground.
'Nobody has ever reached out their hand to me before… But if this man can change my fate, then I will gladly give him my body.'
To her, there was no shame in such an exchange.
In this world, survival demanded sacrifice, and without power, she would remain nothing more than prey.
With strength, however… she could bend the rules themselves to her will.
But she was powerless—and because of that, she had suffered endlessly.
There were days when she had nothing to eat, and even when food did appear, it was snatched away by others.
More often than not, she was beaten simply for being too weak to fight back.
She despised it.
She despised her own weakness.
If she had been a cultivator, none of this would have happened.
To her, there was no shame in using her body to obtain what she desired.
In this world, people would do anything—anything—for even the smallest chance to step onto the path of cultivation.
And Daniel… Daniel was different.
She found him attractive, yes, but more than that, in the darkness of her lowest moment, he had appeared before her as a saviour.
[: You have accepted the first disciple and have received Seed of World Tree, Immortal Peach Seed, 1 Card of Physique, 1 Card of Bloodline, 1 Card of Spiritual Root, 1 Card of Cultivation Manual, 1 Card of Cultivation Method, Grade 5 Purifying Pill, Grade 2 Restoration Vitamin Pill, Grade 1 Bone Refinement Pill, Grade 3 Cleansing Pill, Grade 4 Body Strengthening Pill, 1 White Disciple Robe and 1 Disciple Token :]
'So, it works like that also. Does that mean, for every disciple I accept, it will lead to this kind of reward?' He thought.
[: Affirmative :]
With rewards now tied to accepting disciples, Daniel's enthusiasm for recruitment grew.
Not only would it help him fulfil his dream of building a harem, but it would also make him stronger.
"Raise your head, my disciple."
She slowly lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes.
"From this moment on, as a disciple of this sect, you are both my family… and my woman," he declared with quiet confidence.
"Whatever you desire, I can give. But first—let's step into the sect together."
Daniel extended his hand toward her.
At first, she hesitated, startled and nervous, but the warmth of his smile eased her tension.
With a timid breath, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to lead her past the grand gates.
"Once again," he announced, "welcome to the Heavenly Harem Sect."
The moment she crossed the threshold, her breath was stolen away.
The sheer brilliance of the sect left her stunned.
Though she had never cultivated, she could feel it; the air itself was unlike anything she had experienced.
Each breath seemed to sharpen her mind, bringing a peace she had never known.
"Follow me. I'll show you your dormitory—the place you'll be staying from now on."
She nodded and trailed behind him, her eyes darting across the flourishing scenery.
Every step revealed more beauty, more life, as if the sect itself were alive.
Finally, they stopped before a tall, wide facility.
Daniel turned to her, holding out a neatly folded white robe and a finely crafted token.
"This robe marks you as a member of my sect," he explained, his tone patient.
"And this token serves as your identity—necessary for accessing facilities like this dormitory."
Her puzzled expression made him chuckle softly before continuing.
"Go on, enter your room. You can explore, maybe wash up, and prepare yourself''
''Once you're ready, we'll begin your cultivation."
Still shy and uncertain, she nodded and stepped through the dormitory doors.
The moment she crossed the threshold, the air shimmered, and in an instant, she was transported directly into her private room, crafted from heavenly-grade materials, radiating an aura of comfort and serenity.