**********
—The next morning—
Star Dou Great Forest,
After spending the entire night together, Lev and Gu Yuena finally decided that their vacation in the Star Dou Great Forest had come to an end.
They were already preparing to leave. They couldn't afford to remain away for too long, especially with numerous matters still requiring their attention back in the Eternal Divine Empire.
Upon learning that their Lords were leaving once again, the Spirit Beasts of the forest gathered to bid them farewell. Some of them even congratulated the two in advance, knowing what they had been hoping to accomplish during their stay.
Lev and Gu Yuena could only smile awkwardly at their words before finally leaving the forest.
**********
—Two hours later—
Eternal Divine Palace,
It didn't take long before Lev and Gu Yuena finally returned to the palace.
The elemental spirits and the other summons were the first to greet them, followed shortly afterward by Bibi Dong and the others, whose smiles clearly showed how happy they were to see the two return.
"I thought you would take much longer. You know, since Gu Yuena is a dragon, I thought you two would be occupied for quite some time."
Bibi Dong teasingly smiled as she looked between Lev and Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena immediately became embarrassed, while Lev simply chuckled.
"Well, I promised to hold an event before the end of the year, so I needed to come back," Lev replied.
He then greeted everyone properly, giving each of them a kiss after being separated from them for an entire month.
"Let's get inside and eat."
Lev's stomach was already demanding food.
Although he had long since reached a point where food was no longer necessary for his survival, eating had already become a normal part of his daily life. It was something he simply couldn't bring himself to abandon.
Following Lev's suggestion, he, Gu Yuena, and the others headed toward the dining hall for breakfast.
**********
—Thirty minutes later—
Dining Hall,
Thirty minutes later, Lev had prepared a light meal for everyone.
They were now gathered around the table, eating while discussing various matters, particularly what had happened during Lev and Gu Yuena's month-long stay in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Since the two had been gone for an entire month, everyone was naturally curious about what had kept them there for so long.
"Yuena, what did you and Master do for an entire month?"
Tsunade suddenly asked curiously.
She couldn't imagine what could have occupied them for that long. Aside from its beautiful scenery and numerous Spirit Beasts, there wasn't much in the forest that could keep Lev and Gu Yuena occupied for an entire month.
Hearing the question, Zhu Zhuqing and the others immediately turned toward Gu Yuena with curious expressions.
Gu Yuena's face became slightly flushed.
She glanced toward Lev, silently hoping that he would answer for her.
"Hahaha. We spent most of our time together because Yu'er wanted to try for a baby dragon."
Lev answered honestly.
"B-Baby?"
Of everything Lev had said, Xiao Wu seemed to hear only one word.
Her eyes widened as her imagination immediately began running wild.
The same reaction could be seen among the other women around the table.
After several seconds of silence, they all slowly turned toward Lev.
Their gazes were so intense that Lev couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
'...I think I said too much.'
Suddenly, Bibi Dong stood from her seat and walked directly toward him.
She sat on his lap, facing him, before wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Lev," she said with a charming smile, "there's something that needs to be checked in the branch hall. Should we go and take a look?"
Lev was caught off guard by the sudden change in atmosphere.
Nevertheless, he smiled and returned her affectionate gesture before glancing around the table.
The others were looking at him in exactly the same way.
"...Perhaps we should all take a vacation sometime."
Since the chances of pregnancy were relatively low, Lev had already decided to deactivate the ability that directly influenced pregnancy and leave the matter to chance.
The only reason he had kept it active until now was because he still wasn't completely prepared to become a father.
The thought of having so many children at once was enough to make his head hurt.
But perhaps avoiding the matter forever wasn't the answer either.
He would eventually have to face it.
Hearing Lev's decision, the girls immediately became excited.
Their expressions brightened as they began imagining what it would be like to have children with him.
Lev couldn't help but smile helplessly at their enthusiasm.
"Don't get too excited," he warned. "Even Yu'er and I spent an entire month trying, and there still weren't any results."
The excitement around the table suddenly disappeared.
Everyone stared at Lev with strange expressions.
"I-Is there something wrong with you, Lev?" Bibi Dong asked worriedly.
"Well, technically yes."
Lev's honest answer only caused their misunderstanding to deepen.
The girls immediately began comforting him, their expressions filled with concern.
"Hahaha! It's not what you think!"
Lev couldn't help laughing at their reactions.
"Then what is it?" Gu Yuena asked, equally curious about the situation.
"According to the system, my body is still undergoing a transformation. Because of that, producing offspring is more difficult for me than it would be for an ordinary person."
Lev explained what he had learned from the system.
The women finally understood.
They breathed sighs of relief after realizing that there was nothing actually wrong with Lev.
"So, our chances of becoming pregnant depend largely on luck?" Lev asked.
Bibi Dong, who was still sitting on his lap, suddenly narrowed her eyes with a playful smile.
"In other words, we simply need to maximize our chances."
Tsunade and the others immediately understood what she meant.
Their eyes widened as they exchanged glances.
Then, one by one, they turned toward Lev.
The atmosphere suddenly became dangerous.
"Wait..."
Lev barely had time to react before his lovers surrounded him, their expressions filled with determination.
He could only smile helplessly as they dragged him toward the bedroom.
Meanwhile, Tsunade remained behind for a moment.
She looked at the food that had barely been touched, then glanced toward the direction where everyone had disappeared.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Looks like breakfast can wait."
With that, the dining hall was left empty.
For the following week, Lev and his lovers remained inside the palace, enjoying their private time together.
By the time they finally emerged, the women were completely satisfied and exhausted, while Lev could only shake his head with a helpless smile at their determination.
**********
—Three months later—
Eternal Divine Elite Academy Arena,
As promised, the event Lev had announced several months ago had finally begun.
The academy's vast arena was packed with students and teachers, all eagerly watching the battles taking place before them. Standing at the highest platform, Lev calmly observed the students as they fought with everything they had. Seeing their excitement and determination, a faint smile appeared on his face.
This time, Lev had organized a massive one-on-one tournament for the academy's students. To ensure fairness, different criteria and rules had also been implemented for support-type Spirit Masters, allowing them to compete according to their own specialties.
As the tournament progressed, several promising students began to stand out from the rest.
Many of these students were individuals who, according to the original timeline, would have participated in the Annual Continental Spirit Master Competition if Lev had never interfered with the world's development.
Among them were Xie Lingling, Hu Liena, and several other talented young Spirit Masters.
Of course, Qian Renxue remained one of the most outstanding students in the entire academy. However, Hu Liena was not far behind. As Bibi Dong's disciple, she had received guidance from her master from time to time, allowing her strength and combat experience to steadily improve.
Because of the enormous number of participants, the tournament lasted for an entire month.
By the end of it, the rankings had already been determined, leaving only the final battle to decide who would become the ultimate champion.
Some students were disappointed after losing, while others were not discouraged at all. Instead, they became even more motivated after realizing that the academy was filled with countless talented individuals they had never known about before.
For them, losing was not the end.
It was simply another reason to become stronger.
*****
On the Stage,
Surrounded by countless students and teachers, Qian Renxue and Hu Liena stood opposite one another, their eyes firmly locked together.
Both had fought their way through an entire month of battles and had finally reached the final stage.
Bibi Dong's daughter against Bibi Dong's disciple.
The relationship between the two made this battle even more significant, and the students couldn't help but regard it as one of the most exciting battles the academy had ever witnessed.
The anticipation within the arena reached its peak.
The announcer finally raised his voice.
"Final match... Begin!"
The moment the announcement was made, neither Qian Renxue nor Hu Liena hesitated.
Both immediately stepped forward, intending to seize the initiative and land the first attack.
Boom!
Their figures collided almost instantly.
The entire arena erupted into cheers.
Countless students shouted their names as they watched the two young women clash. To them, this was a battle between two goddesses, and missing such an opportunity was simply impossible.
As the battle continued, the two displayed their abilities to the fullest.
Hu Liena fought desperately, attempting to find an opening, but Qian Renxue's strength and battle experience gradually pushed her into a disadvantageous position.
Little by little, Hu Liena was forced backward.
She tried to counterattack several times, but Qian Renxue continued to suppress her.
Eventually, Hu Liena reached her limit.
"Huff... Huff..."
She was breathing heavily, her body already exhausted.
After realizing that she could no longer continue fighting without seriously injuring herself, Hu Liena finally raised her hand.
"I surrender."
The arena suddenly became silent.
The announcer immediately declared the result.
"Qian Renxue is the winner!"
BOOOOOOM!!!
The entire arena erupted into deafening cheers.
Qian Renxue stood there while breathing heavily, but she soon composed herself.
She had won.
Despite maintaining her usual calm expression, excitement filled her heart.
Her eyes subconsciously moved toward Lev.
She wanted to see his reaction more than anything else.
Lev also happened to be looking at her.
When their eyes met, Lev smiled warmly.
Qian Renxue's heart immediately skipped a beat.
However, before she could react, she suddenly heard a soft voice beside Lev.
"My daughter is beautiful, isn't she?"
Bibi Dong had already noticed the feelings her daughter had developed toward Lev. The two had even talked about it privately before.
However, Bibi Dong had never attempted to force them together.
If Qian Renxue truly wanted to be with Lev, she wanted her daughter to take that step herself.
Lev glanced toward Qian Renxue before answering with a smile.
"Well, she's as beautiful as you."
Bibi Dong's lips curved upward.
Without saying anything else, Lev leaned toward her and kissed her on the lips.
Qian Renxue, who was still standing in the arena, immediately saw the scene.
Her expression stiffened.
A bitter feeling welled up inside her heart.
She quietly bit her lower lip before forcing herself to look away.
Turning toward Hu Liena, she gave her a respectful bow.
"Thank you for the battle."
Hu Liena also returned the gesture.
Although she had lost, there was no resentment in her eyes.
Instead, she smiled.
"Congratulations."
Meanwhile, Lev stood up and looked down at the arena.
The moment the students noticed him standing, the entire arena gradually fell silent.
Everyone looked toward him expectantly.
Lev swept his gaze across the students before speaking.
"You're all deserving of the title of elite."
His voice wasn't particularly loud, yet everyone could clearly hear him.
"Those of you who lost today shouldn't become discouraged. Losing this battle doesn't mean you'll lose forever. As long as you continue working hard and become stronger, you can surpass those who defeated you today."
The students listened attentively.
Some clenched their fists.
Others had tears in their eyes.
But all of them felt their determination burning stronger than before.
Lev then continued.
"Therefore, I hereby announce that starting from those ranked fifteenth and above, you will have the opportunity to become my direct students."
The entire arena immediately erupted into excitement.
"You will undergo my personal training regime and be given the opportunity to become members of the Eternal Divine Royal Guards."
Qian Renxue, Hu Liena, and the other students who ranked within the top fifteen all revealed excited expressions.
For them, becoming Lev's direct student was already an incredible honor.
But the opportunity to become one of the Royal Guards was even more valuable.
However, Lev wasn't finished.
"For the support-type Spirit Masters, I will also select five outstanding individuals who have demonstrated exceptional talent and potential."
His gaze shifted toward the support-type students.
"Among them, Ning Rongrong, Xie Lingling, and Oscar have demonstrated particularly outstanding performances."
The three immediately became excited upon hearing their names.
The announcement continued, causing another wave of excitement throughout the arena.
Once everything had been decided, the tournament officially came to an end.
Lev dismissed the rest of the students before turning toward the twenty selected Spirit Masters.
"Follow me."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Qian Renxue, Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, Xie Lingling, and the sixteen other selected students immediately followed Lev.
Their faces were filled with pride and excitement.
For them, this was not merely the end of a tournament.
It was the beginning of an entirely new chapter in their lives.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace Hall,
As they entered the most sacred palace on the entire continent, the twenty selected students couldn't help but feel bewildered.
They had all heard countless stories about the Eternal Divine Palace. It was a place where ordinary people could never set foot without Lev's permission. Even powerful Spirit Masters rarely had the opportunity to enter it.
Yet today, they had been personally brought inside by Lev himself.
Knowing that they were now his direct students, they couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and excitement.
"Congratulations once again," Lev said as he looked at the twenty students before him. "From this day onward, I hope you're all prepared to shoulder the responsibilities that come with being my students."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The students answered simultaneously and respectfully.
"Enough with the 'Your Majesty.'" Lev waved his hand awkwardly. "From now on, call me Teacher. I feel strange hearing people around my age, or even older than me, constantly calling me Your Majesty."
"Yes, Teacher!"
The students immediately corrected themselves.
"Much better."
Lev nodded in satisfaction.
He then looked at the twenty young Spirit Masters before him, his gaze lingering on each one as he thought about their individual talents and shortcomings.
"Now, as your teacher, I'll give each of you a gift."
The students immediately became excited.
Lev motioned for them to approach him one by one.
As the Emperor of the continent and their teacher, the gifts he intended to give them were naturally extraordinary.
Rather than simply handing them treasures, Lev decided to directly transfer several skills from his arsenal into their minds. He carefully selected abilities that complemented each person's Spirit and fighting style.
"Rongrong."
Lev's gaze landed on Ning Rongrong.
"You've become an excellent Spirit Master. I'm looking forward to seeing how far you'll go in the future."
A warm smile appeared on his face.
The childish and spoiled girl from the past had long disappeared. In her place was now a mature and elegant young woman who had grown tremendously over the years.
Hearing Lev's praise, Ning Rongrong's cheeks immediately became slightly red.
Her father had told her about Lev many times in the past. She had also occasionally seen him when he visited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
However, they had never really spoken.
Back then, she could only watch him from a distance as he worked together with her father and dealt with various matters.
Now, she was standing directly in front of him as his student.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Ning Rongrong smiled shyly.
Meanwhile, Qian Renxue noticed the subtle change in Ning Rongrong's expression.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She was far too familiar with that expression.
She had already known that Ning Rongrong and Lev had some history, but seeing the way Ning Rongrong looked at him now made her curiosity grow.
'Could there be something between them?'
Qian Renxue quietly wondered.
Before she could think about it further, Lev had already begun giving Ning Rongrong her gifts.
"You're a support-type Spirit Master, so your biggest weakness is your ability to protect yourself."
Lev raised his hand.
"I'll give you both offensive and defensive skills. That way, even if you're separated from your teammates, you'll still have the ability to fight and protect yourself."
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
"Don't thank me yet. Once you learn them, make sure you actually put them to use."
"Yes!"
After finishing with Ning Rongrong, Lev turned his attention toward Qian Renxue.
"Renxue."
"Yes, Teacher."
Qian Renxue stepped forward.
Lev looked at her seriously.
"You're already incredibly talented and powerful, but always remember one thing."
Qian Renxue listened carefully.
"There will always be someone stronger than you."
Her expression became serious.
"Don't allow your strength to make you arrogant. Continue improving yourself and never stop advancing."
Lev knew there wasn't much else he needed to tell Qian Renxue.
She was already a rare genius who appeared only once in a generation.
What she needed most wasn't excessive guidance but a reminder that the world was vast and that there was always a higher realm beyond what she could currently see.
"Yes, Teacher. I'll remember that."
Qian Renxue nodded firmly.
Lev then gave her a powerful skill specifically suited to her abilities, one that would greatly improve her combat potential.
Afterward, Lev continued down the line.
Each student received something different.
Some received offensive abilities.
Others received defensive skills, movement techniques, auxiliary abilities, or special techniques that complemented their Spirits.
Lev didn't simply hand them random powers.
He carefully selected skills according to their individual strengths and weaknesses.
For the next two hours, the students underwent one transfer after another.
Eventually, all twenty of them collapsed from the overwhelming amount of information flooding their minds.
The process wasn't painful, but the sheer amount of knowledge and unfamiliar techniques was far beyond what their minds could immediately process.
After they finally recovered, every student was left completely stunned.
They could clearly feel the extraordinary techniques now engraved within their minds.
Each one of them was far beyond anything they had ever possessed before.
Most importantly, they couldn't understand how their teacher had accomplished something like this.
'How powerful is Teacher Lev really?'
That question appeared in the minds of every student.
But alongside their shock was an even stronger emotion.
Happiness.
They had never imagined that becoming Lev's students would bring them such an incredible opportunity.
Meanwhile, two students weren't paying attention to the others.
Qian Renxue and Ning Rongrong were staring at each other.
Neither of them said anything.
Yet there was an unmistakable tension between them.
Their eyes met.
"Hmph."
Both simultaneously turned their heads away.
They clearly had no intention of giving the other an advantage.
The other students looked at the two in confusion, unable to understand what had suddenly happened between them.
Lev, however, didn't seem particularly concerned.
Instead, he decided to let his students familiarize themselves with the palace.
He took them around the various halls and facilities while explaining some of the rules and arrangements they would need to follow once their formal training began.
The students listened attentively, occasionally asking questions whenever they encountered something they didn't understand.
After another hour, Lev finally dismissed them.
"You'll have the next two days to rest and prepare yourselves."
His expression became serious.
"Once those two days are over, your training officially begins."
"Yes, Teacher!"
The twenty students responded enthusiastically.
With that, they respectfully bid farewell to Lev before leaving the palace.
They all understood that the peaceful two days ahead of them would probably be the last period of relaxation they would enjoy for quite some time.
After all, being personally trained by Lev was an opportunity they could never waste.
**********
—Night—
In the Bedroom,
After everything that had happened during the day, Lev and the others were now gathered in their bedroom. The girls occupied both sides of him, already fast asleep after finishing their usual nightly routine.
Lev, however, remained wide awake.
'Now that I think about it, I feel like I acquired something back in the Star Dou Great Forest.'
Remembering this, Lev immediately opened his status.
[Harem God (Beginner)]
[Type: Title]
[Description: A title granted after five women have become part of the host's harem.]
[Skill/s:]
[Harem Sense (Active): Allows the host to perceive the level of affection an individual of the opposite sex has toward him. Furthermore, it allows the host to perceive the inner emotions of living beings, serving as a guide in determining whether a woman has genuinely become part of the host's harem.]
[Harem Cultivation (Passive): Allows the host to strengthen individuals of the opposite sex. Through intimate bonding with the host, they receive beneficial energy that gradually enhances their constitution.]
[Note: The system recommends that the host continue exploring this title, as it still has room for evolution.]
'A growth-type title, huh?'
Lev looked at the women sleeping peacefully around him before activating the first skill.
Not long after, translucent red indicators appeared above their heads.
[Love: 100%]
'So that's how it works.'
Lev nodded thoughtfully.
'I'm more curious about the second ability. I don't know exactly how much it can improve someone's constitution, but even a slight enhancement would be enough to help an ordinary mortal establish a stronger foundation.'
A faint smile appeared on his face.
This was only the Beginner stage of the title.
Since the system had already confirmed that it could evolve, Lev couldn't help but become curious about what additional abilities might appear in the future.
'It seems I have another reason to look forward to getting stronger.'
With that thought, Lev continued exploring his status for a while before eventually giving in to his exhaustion.
He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep alongside the others.
**********
—One month later—
In a Forest,
In a forest not far from the Eternal Divine Palace, Lev could be seen observing his students' training.
A proud smile appeared on his face.
Although every student selected to become his disciple was already talented, their progress over the past month had exceeded his expectations.
Under his guidance, their combat abilities, understanding of their Spirits, and mastery of their newly acquired skills had improved tremendously.
"That's enough for today. Head back and rest. We'll continue tomorrow."
Lev finally dismissed them after they had trained for the entire day.
"Yes, Teacher!"
The students respectfully bid farewell before leaving the forest.
However, one person remained behind.
Qian Renxue.
As the leader of the group, she had often stayed behind after training during the past month.
Of course, there was another reason for it.
"Te—"
Before Qian Renxue could finish speaking, Lev stepped forward and kissed her.
Her eyes widened briefly in surprise before she closed them and wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his affection.
For the past month, their time alone had gradually become something they both looked forward to.
When they finally separated, Qian Renxue's face was filled with happiness.
"T-Teacher..."
"I've told you before. When we're alone, just call me Lev."
Lev smiled and gently pinched her nose.
Qian Renxue smiled in response.
The two looked at each other quietly for a moment, as though the entire world around them had disappeared.
Soon, they shared another passionate kiss.
Their relationship had remained hidden from the other students, but both of them understood what they meant to each other.
"Renxue," Lev said softly after they separated. "I still don't understand why you refuse to live with everyone else."
Qian Renxue looked at him silently.
"But I've had enough of waiting," Lev continued with a faint smile. "This time, I'm bringing you back with me, whether you like it or not."
Qian Renxue's cheeks flushed.
"Lev..."
She had originally intended to discuss the matter with him today, but after hearing his words, she realized there was no longer any reason to hesitate.
The two remained together in the quiet forest for some time before eventually returning to the palace.
That evening, the Eternal Divine Palace became lively.
A welcoming celebration was held for a new member of Lev's family.
Qian Renxue had finally taken her place beside him along with the responsibility of taking care of one of the tailed beasts, Son Guko.