Erdos Helia, a graduate of Saint Freya Academy. Awakened middle grade Dragon Spirit Roots. She didn't turn out to be my 'partner'. That's a good thing. I already have twenty-one partners.
Twenty. One.
I haven't even met five of them. I confirmed my relationship with four—Kiana, Seele, Veliona, Sirin. I can already see my future. If I stay at home, I will be spamming dual cultivation.
Morning? Dual cultivation.
Afternoon? Dual cultivation.
Night? Dual cultivation.
Even with my ultimate grade Ten Elements Spirit Root and two high grade Tao Bodies, I could not help but tremble. Fulfilling my responsibilities to the four are already quite challenging, not to mention twenty-one. I don't know how I will handle it... how my body will handle it.
Heck, no one does.
Love is not as simple as collecting women like pokemon. Whoever does that is a true scumbag. That, or someone whose relationships do not go deeper than fuck buddies. I personally despise these kinds of relationships the most. They are a fake harem lord.
A true harem lord has the ability to take care of one hundred girlfriends at once. Admittedly, my abilities are far from it. I can only hope that I can finish resolving it before the two-thousand years deadline comes.
I shook these thoughts out of my head.
"The Heavenly Prodigy Program hasn't started yet, right? Let's put her into it. It happens I have a new batch of resources to give."
"Will it follow the original schedule?" Welt Yang asked.
"Yes. Eight years from now on. Earth's sense of crisis shouldn't disappear completely…"
*****
The Wushi Dao Sect stood at the previous Mount Tai. Earth's surface received the blessings of numerous spirit veins, causing the entire planet to become 'tougher'. It did not change in size.
Mount Tai alone is not enough to house the millions of disciples. Hence, floating islands and smaller mountain peaks are built. Every Vein has a separate mountain peak. The main activity, however, takes place in the original Mount Tai.
A sight made up of a tall mountain surrounded by floating islands could be seen. The surrounding fog and dew added further to the sight. To the outside world, however, only Mount Tai's projection could be seen. The Sect itself exists inside another layer of the three-dimensional plane. Its internal space was also expanded.
At the top of the Sword Vein's island was its Peak Master's residence. Bianka did not leave her residence during most of the years, secluding herself all the time. The occasional fluctuations emitted from her residence made her a subject of reverence of the Sword Vein's disciples.
Bianka's residence was a two-storey modern courtyard. Its open yard houses a tall tree. Lush green leaves blocked the sunlight, leaving behind parted shadows. The tea table was right under its shade.
Bianka opened the snack cabinet and took out one pastry after another. The burst of flavors inside her mouth made her entire body relax.
Shortcakes, cheesecakes, cupcakes, puddings…
Knock-!
The light knock snapped her out of reverie. Bianka flashed straight to the front door and opened it.
"Hello."
What greeted her was none other than Shi Tian. His attire was the same as she could remember. The double-layered Daoist Robes consisted of black and blue. The feathered white cape draped down from his back. The pair of golden pupils added another layer of majesty around him. Anyone who sees him will halt on their tracks, showing how absurd Shi Tian's current charm was.
Bianka was no exception. It took her a second to regain herself.
"Please come inside."
Shi Tian looked at Bianka's back. She wore nothing except a large white t-shirt and black shorts.
'Their fashion sense is the same…'
Being reminded of Kiana's overtly casual attire almost made him choke on his saliva. Fortunately, it wasn't black spats, lest he would have doubted whether the two are connected mentally.
Soon, the two of them sat across the table. He examined Bianka as she started taking the tea set. The dignified and solemn air around her prompts everyone to take her seriously. Her mature charm held a hint of chivalrousness. She is idealistic on her actions yet she is also grounded on reality.
The stark contrast of her two sides fascinated Shi Tian.
"Have we met before?"
Bianka's question broke his internal thoughts.
"Yes, in Glastonbury. 2012."
Her mind rapidly recalled her memories. Bianka saw the time she met a boy who appeared to be homeless. His features are worlds away from the current Shi Tian, but the similarities are there.
"I was homeless at that time. Miss Bianka should have heard of my background."
"Yes. You belong to another world."
Shi Tian did not hide his background from others. He came from another world and happened to land onto Earth. His teacher guided him in immortal cultivation, which gave everyone a chance to turn things around.
"That was my first day on this Earth. Come to think of it, I met you that day and Kiana the next."
'Kiana…'
Bianka had long known about her true background. Her memories automatically recovered the moment she stepped onto the Foundation Establishment Realm.
She is the original Kiana Kaslana. Otto used her bodily tissues to clone her and Sirin, which ended up as K-423. Siegfried attempted to rescue them, only for their plane to be shot down by Otto. He managed to save K-423, but Kiana ended up severely injured.
It was Ragna who took her to Otto for recovery. Such was the beginning of Bianka's story.
She had confronted Siegfried, Theresa, and Kiana herself about it. Be that as it may be, her relationship between the three remains awkward.
Shi Tian saw the hint of awkwardness and brought a topic forward.
"Actually, she told me about you several times. Kiana wanted to spend more time with you if not for conflicting schedules."
"Really?"
"Yeah. She bragged about having an older sister…"
Bianka is similar to Kiana in a lot of aspects. Had Kiana been properly taught by Siegfried, she wouldn't be a bonafide Paramecium, but a twin of Bianka in terms of hard work. Kiana is capable of working hard as long as she sees the benefits.
Their different upbringing caused their personalities to diverge, but their core remains the same.
They will fight for all that is beautiful.
The two continued chatting without noticing their unfamiliarity disappearing.