They gave me a room.
Well, "room" was generous. It was more like a closet with delusions of grandeur. Eight feet by eight feet, stone walls, a wooden bed that looked like it had seen better centuries, a small desk, and a chamber pot in the corner that I was trying very hard not to think about.
But it had a door that locked. And after nearly getting executed an hour ago, I wasn't about to complain.
I sat on the bed—which creaked ominously under my weight—and finally let myself process everything.
*Okay. Okay. Let's think about this rationally.*
I was in a cultivation world. A real one. With sects and spiritual energy and jade beauties who could freeze your dick off.
I had a system. A harem system. That apparently wanted me to seduce powerful women while also not dying.
And I had thirty days to go from "trash outer disciple" to "someone who can land a hit on a Core Formation cultivator."
*I am so fucked.*
**[SYSTEM ACTIVE]**
The blue window popped up in my vision again, making me flinch.
**[Welcome back, Host! Ready to start your journey to becoming the Harem God Emperor?]**
"Can you… not appear so suddenly?" I muttered. "And can other people see you?"
**[Answer: No! Only you can see and hear the system! To others, you'll just look like you're talking to yourself. Try not to do that in public unless you want them to think you're crazier than they already do!]**
Great. Just great.
**[Now then! Let's go over the basics, shall we?]**
A new window expanded:
-----
**[HEAVENLY HAREM SYSTEM - STATUS]**
**Host:** Alex Chen (inhabiting Chen Feng's body)
**Age:** 25 (body is 18)
**Cultivation Level:** Qi Gathering, 3rd Stage (trash tier lol)
**Harem Members:** 0
**Harem Points:** 1000 HP
**Active Abilities:**
- Silver Tongue of the Casanova (Passive): +50% persuasiveness when talking to potential harem members, slight charm aura
**Cultivation Techniques:**
- Primordial Yang Scripture (Basic): A balanced cultivation method focused on yang energy. Good foundation for dual cultivation later. *wink wink*
**Current Mission:** Get Stronger or Die Trying (Literally)
**Time Until Duel with Yue Lingshuang:** 29 days, 18 hours, 34 minutes
-----
I stared at the status screen.
"Okay, several questions. First: what the hell are Harem Points?"
**[Harem Points (HP) are the system's currency! You earn them by completing missions, increasing affection levels with jade beauties, and achieving… intimate milestones. You can spend HP in the System Shop for cultivation resources, techniques, items, and special abilities!]**
"Intimate milestones," I repeated flatly.
**[Correct! For example:]**
- **First Kiss with a Harem Member: 500 HP**
- **First Time Holding Hands: 100 HP**
- **First Time Seeing Them Naked: 1000 HP**
- **First Time Going All The Way: 5000 HP**
- **And many more exciting achievements! ♡**
My eye twitched. "This system is basically rewarding me for being a pervert."
**[No no no! It's rewarding you for building genuine romantic connections! The physical intimacy is just… a very pleasant bonus! Besides, you're in a cultivation world now. Do you know what dual cultivation is?]**
I did, actually. I'd read enough web novels.
Dual cultivation was when two cultivators—usually a man and woman—cultivated together through sexual intercourse, exchanging and harmonizing their energies to boost both of their cultivation speeds. It was basically sacred sex magic.
"Yeah, I know what it is," I said.
**[Great! Then you understand that in this world, intimacy and power are intrinsically linked! The Primordial Yang Scripture you received is specially designed to synergize with dual cultivation. As you get stronger and gain harem members, you'll be able to cultivate together and boost everyone's power!]**
**[It's a win-win! You get stronger, they get stronger, and everyone has a great time! What's not to love?]**
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Okay, fine. So I need to get stronger, seduce women, and somehow not die in the process."
**[Exactly! You're catching on quick!]**
"Second question: You gave me the Primordial Yang Scripture. How do I actually… use it? Chen Feng's memories are fuzzy on cultivation details."
**[Ah! Good question! Would you like me to activate the Beginner's Cultivation Tutorial?]**
"Please."
**[Activating Tutorial Mode!]**
Suddenly, I felt… something. Like a warmth spreading through my chest. Not uncomfortable, just… present.
**[That's your dantian! It's located about three finger-widths below your navel. In the cultivation world, your dantian is your power center—where you store and refine spiritual energy, also called Qi.]**
I focused on the sensation. It felt like a small, warm pool inside me.
**[Right now, your dantian is tiny and barely developed. That's why you're only at Qi Gathering 3rd Stage. But with the Primordial Yang Scripture, we can fix that!]**
**[Step 1: Sit in meditation position. Cross-legged is traditional, but whatever's comfortable works.]**
I shifted on the bed, crossing my legs. The bed creaked again but held.
**[Step 2: Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Slow and steady. In through your nose, out through your mouth.]**
I did. The room was quiet except for the distant sounds of the sect—people walking, talking, training.
**[Step 3: Feel the spiritual energy in the air around you. It's everywhere—in the stones, the air, the plants, even the moonlight streaming through your window.]**
At first, I felt nothing. But then…
There.
Tiny pinpricks of… something. Like static electricity, but warm. Gentle. They floated through the air like invisible fireflies.
"I feel it," I whispered.
**[Good! That's Qi! Now, the Primordial Yang Scripture will guide you on how to absorb it. Just follow the technique's instructions—they've been downloaded directly into your soul, so you should instinctively know what to do.]**
And weirdly, I did.
The technique was like… a breathing pattern? But not just physical breathing. Spiritual breathing. I inhaled, and as I did, I imagined drawing those tiny pinpricks of energy toward me. Into my nose, down my throat, into my lungs, and then…
Down.
Into my dantian.
The warm pool inside me rippled as a single mote of spiritual energy sank into it.
Then another.
And another.
It was slow. Painfully slow. Like trying to fill a swimming pool with an eyedropper.
But it was working.
**[Congratulations! You're officially cultivating! See? Not so hard!]**
**[Current Cultivation Progress: Qi Gathering 3rd Stage (47%)]**
I opened my eyes. "Wait, I can see my progress percentage?"
**[Yep! One of the system's many helpful features! Most cultivators have to guess when they're about to break through to the next stage. You get exact numbers!]**
That… was actually really useful.
"How long will it take to reach Qi Gathering 4th Stage at this rate?"
**[At your current absorption speed? About three weeks.]**
My stomach dropped. "Three weeks? I have thirty days total! That's only one breakthrough!"
**[Correct! Which is why you need to do more than just basic cultivation. You need resources. Pills. Spirit stones. Better techniques. And—]**
A new window popped up.
**[NEW MISSION AVAILABLE!]**
-----
**[MISSION: FIRST STEPS ON THE HEAVENLY PATH]**
**Objective 1:** Reach Qi Gathering 4th Stage (0/1)
**Objective 2:** Earn 100 Contribution Points from the sect
**Objective 3:** Have a meaningful conversation with Yue Lingshuang without embarrassing yourself
**Time Limit:** 7 days
**Rewards:**
- 500 Harem Points
- 1x Qi Condensing Pill (speeds up cultivation)
- 1x Mystery Box (contains random reward)
- Unlock System Shop
**Failure Penalty:** -500 Harem Points, Yue Lingshuang's Affection -10
-----
"Okay," I said slowly. "That's… actually doable. Maybe. What are Contribution Points?"
**[Contribution Points (CP) are the sect's currency! You earn them by doing missions for the sect, completing tasks, or contributing valuable items. You can spend them on cultivation resources, technique scrolls, pills, and sect privileges!]**
**[Chen Feng had accumulated exactly… 3 Contribution Points in three years. Because he was lazy and useless.]**
I groaned. "Of course he did. So how do I earn them?"
**[Check the Mission Hall! It's where disciples pick up sect missions. Everything from gathering herbs to hunting spirit beasts to protecting mortal villages. Higher risk missions give more CP.]**
"And the 'meaningful conversation' with Yue Lingshuang?"
**[Exactly what it sounds like! You need to talk to her like a normal person. Show her you're genuinely changing. Build rapport. You know, basic relationship stuff!]**
"Right. Talk to the terrifying ice goddess who could kill me with a sneeze. No problem."
**[That's the spirit! Oh, and speaking of which—]**
Another window.
**[DAILY MISSION UNLOCKED!]**
-----
**[DAILY MISSION: MORNING CULTIVATION]**
**Objective:** Cultivate for at least 2 hours before dawn
**Reward:** 50 HP, +1% cultivation progress
**Failure Penalty:** None (but you'll fall behind, loser!)
**Repeatable:** Yes (daily)
-----
"Daily missions too?"
**[Of course! Consistency is key in cultivation! Plus, it'll help build good habits. Trust me, future you will thank present you!]**
I looked out the small window. The moon was high—probably around midnight.
"So I should sleep for a few hours, then wake up before dawn to cultivate?"
**[Correct! I'll wake you up at the appropriate time with a gentle alarm!]**
"Define 'gentle.'"
**[You'll see! ♡]**
I didn't like that answer.
But I was exhausted. The adrenaline from nearly dying had worn off, and I was running on fumes.
I lay back on the creaky bed, still fully clothed since I had literally nothing else to wear.
*Tomorrow,* I thought. *Tomorrow I'll figure out the Mission Hall, earn some Contribution Points, and start actually preparing for this insane duel.*
*Tomorrow, I'll—*
**[By the way,]** the system chimed in, **[I should mention that your Heavenly Rizz ability is always active now!]**
I sat up. "What does that mean?"
**[It means you naturally emit a subtle charm aura! Nothing mind-control-y or creepy. Just… you'll be more attractive to potential harem members. More charismatic. Better at reading social situations. That sort of thing!]**
**[It's already at work, actually! Why do you think Yue Lingshuang was so willing to give you a second chance? Sure, your speech was good, but the Rizz ability gave it that extra push!]**
"So I'm… magically charming now?"
**[Magically is such a crude word. Let's say spiritually enhanced charisma! And it'll get stronger as you level up the ability!]**
Great. I was becoming a cultivation world fuckboy.
Although… if it kept me alive and helped me complete missions, I wasn't about to complain.
"Fine. Anything else I should know before I sleep?"
**[Just one thing! As you cultivate and gain harem members, you'll unlock new features! Things like:]**
- **Harem Status Screen** (see all your harem members' stats and affection levels)
- **Dual Cultivation Techniques** (special techniques for… intimate cultivation)
- **Harem Resonance** (your harem members can share buffs and bonuses)
- **And more!**
**[But those are locked until you actually recruit your first harem member! So get to work!]**
"Right. Seduce the terrifying ice woman. Easy."
**[That's the spirit! Now get some sleep! Big day tomorrow!]**
The system window vanished.
I lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
*This is insane. All of this is insane.*
*But…*
I thought about those tiny motes of spiritual energy I'd absorbed. The warmth in my dantian. The feeling of actually *doing* something impossible.
*I can cultivate. I can get stronger. And maybe, just maybe, I can survive this.*
A smile crept onto my face despite everything.
*Alright, cultivation world. Let's see what you've got.*
I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
-----
**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: 4:30 AM]**
**[RISE AND SHINE, SLEEPYHEAD!]**
**[TIME TO CULTIVATE!]**
**[♫ WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP ♫]**
The "gentle alarm" turned out to be the system blasting what sounded like a mix between a rooster crowing and a heavenly choir directly into my brain.
I shot up in bed, heart pounding. "WHAT THE FUCK—"
**[Good morning! Told you I'd wake you up! Now get cultivating! You have 2 hours before sunrise!]**
I rubbed my eyes, groaning. It was still dark outside.
But… I'd promised myself I'd do this.
And if I wanted to survive, I needed every advantage I could get.
I dragged myself out of bed, sat cross-legged on the floor (the bed was too creaky), and started the Primordial Yang Scripture technique again.
Breathe in. Draw in Qi. Breathe out. Refine it in the dantian.
Over and over.
The spiritual energy came easier this time. Maybe because it was dawn—apparently spiritual energy was denser at dawn and dusk. Or maybe because I was getting the hang of it.
**[Cultivation Progress: Qi Gathering 3rd Stage (48%… 49%… 50%…)]**
The numbers ticked up slowly but steadily.
It was meditative, in a way. Peaceful.
For the first time since waking up in this world, I felt… calm.
Two hours passed like minutes.
**[DAILY MISSION COMPLETE!]**
**[Rewards: +50 HP, +1% cultivation progress bonus applied!]**
**[Current Total: 1050 HP]**
**[Cultivation Progress: Qi Gathering 3rd Stage (52%)]**
I opened my eyes as sunlight started streaming through the window.
My body felt… different. Lighter? More energized? Like I'd had the best sleep of my life combined with three cups of coffee.
"Is that normal?" I asked the system.
**[Yep! Cultivating refines your body as well as your spirit. You'll need less sleep, heal faster, and feel generally amazing as you get stronger!]**
**[Also, you should probably get cleaned up. You still smell like fear-sweat from yesterday's execution attempt.]**
Right. I definitely needed a bath.
"Where's the bathing area for outer disciples?"
**[Checking sect map… Found it! Outer Disciple Bathhouse, eastern section. About five minutes walk. Don't worry, it's gender-separated. Probably won't get accused of being a pervert this time!]**
"Probably?"
**[I said what I said!]**
-----
The Outer Disciple Bathhouse was a large stone building with steam rising from vents in the roof. I could hear splashing and conversation from inside.
I pushed open the door to the men's section and—
"Well well well. Look who's still alive."
Three guys blocked my path. All of them were bigger than me—well, bigger than Chen Feng's body. They wore the same blue and white outer disciple robes, but theirs were nicer. Better maintained.
The one who spoke had a scar across his cheek and a sneer that looked permanent.
Chen Feng's memories supplied a name: Zhou Wei. Qi Gathering 7th Stage. Known bully. Massive asshole.
"Heard you somehow weaseled your way out of execution," Zhou Wei said, cracking his knuckles. "Fairy Yue must've been feeling generous. Or maybe she just wants to kill you herself later."
His two lackeys laughed.
I sighed internally. *Of course. Every cultivation story has these guys.*
"I'm just here to bathe," I said evenly. "Not looking for trouble."
**[SYSTEM ALERT: Potential Combat Situation Detected!]**
**[Note: You are WAY weaker than these guys. Recommend: Talk your way out or run away. Fighting is suicide.]**
"Not looking for trouble?" Zhou Wei stepped closer. "That's funny. Because you've been nothing BUT trouble since you joined the sect. And now you think you can just… what? Pretend to be a good disciple?"
He poked me in the chest. Hard.
"I don't buy it. You're still the same perverted trash. And someone needs to teach you your place."
**[Affection Alert!]**
**[Zhou Wei - Affection Level: -50 (Hates Your Guts)]**
**[Note: Not all NPCs are potential harem members, thankfully. This guy just sucks.]**
I could feel anger rising. The old Alex would've probably tried to de-escalate and run.
But something had changed.
Maybe it was the cultivation. Maybe it was the system. Maybe it was just having died once already.
But I wasn't going to take shit from discount thugs.
I looked Zhou Wei dead in the eye.
"You're right," I said calmly. "I've been trash. For three years, I embarrassed this sect and wasted everyone's time."
Zhou Wei blinked, clearly not expecting me to agree.
"But that changes now," I continued. "I have thirty days to prove myself. And I'm not going to let bottom-feeders like you distract me from that."
The bathhouse went quiet.
"What… did you just call me?" Zhou Wei's face turned red.
"Bottom-feeder," I repeated. "You've been in the sect for what, five years? And you're still stuck at Qi Gathering 7th Stage? Still bullying people weaker than you because you're too mediocre to advance?"
**[SYSTEM WARNING: His anger level is rising! Maybe don't poke the bear?]**
**[…Actually, no, this is hilarious. Keep going.]**
"At least I'm trying to improve," I said. "What's your excuse? Or are you just going to spend your entire life as an outer disciple, being someone's lackey?"
Zhou Wei's hand shot out, grabbing my collar.
"You little—"
"Is there a problem here?"
The new voice was cold. Female. Authoritative.
Everyone in the bathhouse immediately shut up.
A young woman stood in the doorway—wait, no, this was the men's section, what was she—
She wore inner disciple robes. Purple and white instead of blue and white. Her hair was tied up in a practical ponytail, and she had sharp, intelligent eyes.
**[Jade Beauty Detected!]**
**[Lin Mei - Sword Fairy of Azure Peak]**
**[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment, 2nd Stage]**
**[Affection Level: 0 (Doesn't Know You)]**
**[Danger Level: HIGH - Could absolutely kick your ass]**
Zhou Wei immediately released my collar and bowed. "Senior Sister Lin! I was just—"
"Just what?" Lin Mei's eyes narrowed. "Harassing a fellow disciple? In the bathhouse?"
"He insulted me—"
"Did he?" Lin Mei looked at me. "What's your name?"
"Chen Feng," I said, bowing respectfully. "Outer disciple."
Her eyes widened slightly. "The one who challenged Fairy Yue to a duel?"
*Oh great. I'm already famous for that.*
"Yes, Senior Sister," I said.
Lin Mei studied me for a moment. Then she looked back at Zhou Wei.
"Chen Feng is under Fairy Yue's supervision for the next thirty days," she said. "Which means if anything happens to him—anything at all—Fairy Yue will want to know why."
Zhou Wei paled.
"So unless you want to explain to the Ice Phoenix Fairy why you were starting fights in the bathhouse, I suggest you leave. Now."
Zhou Wei and his lackeys practically tripped over themselves bowing and running out.
Lin Mei watched them go, then turned back to me.
"You have guts," she said. "Insulting someone four stages above you."
"He started it," I said, then immediately felt like a child.
But Lin Mei smiled slightly. "Fair enough. Still, be careful. Zhou Wei holds grudges."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Senior Sister."
She nodded. "I've heard interesting things about you, Chen Feng. Everyone's talking about your supposed 'spiritual awakening.'"
"Is that so?"
"Mmm. Most think you're lying. Some think you've gone insane." She tilted her head. "But Fairy Yue doesn't give second chances lightly. So either you're the best liar in the sect, or something really did change."
"I guess we'll find out in thirty days," I said.
Lin Mei's smile widened. "I suppose we will. Good luck, Chen Feng. You'll need it."
And with that, she left.
**[AFFECTION ALERT!]**
**[Lin Mei - Affection Level: 0 → 15 (Mildly Interested)]**
**[Nice! You've caught another jade beauty's attention! The Rizz ability is working!]**
I let out a breath I didn't know I'd holding.
*Okay. So I almost got beaten up, but I also met another potential harem member who doesn't hate me.*
*Progress?*
**[Definitely progress! Now go actually bathe. You still smell.]**
Right.
I headed to the baths, and for the first time since arriving in this world, I felt something like hope.
*Day one of cultivation: survived.*
*Only twenty-nine more days to go.*
-----
**TO BE CONTINUED…**