The private jet hummed softly as it cut through the night sky, carrying me back to Beijing. I lounged in the leather seat, the Ancient Dragon Manual open on my lap. Its pages glowed faintly under the cabin lights, ancient runes pulsing with latent Qi. This wasn't just a book—it was a ticket to power. In the original novel, Long Tian used it to skyrocket from Foundation Building to Golden Core in months, dominating the hidden cultivation world while building his urban empire.
But now, it was mine. I traced a finger over the first diagram, channeling a sliver of Qi through my meridians. The energy responded eagerly, warmer than expected, coiling like a serpent in my core.
[Qi Absorption Successful. Cultivation Progress: 5%.]
[New Technique Unlocked: Dragon's Breath Lv.1 – Enhances internal Qi circulation, increasing strength by 10% temporarily.]
A subtle rush filled my veins, my muscles tightening with newfound vitality. Level 2 felt good, but I needed more. The system had given me a head start, but Long Tian's protagonist aura meant he'd bounce back—probably stumbling into some backup opportunity if I didn't stay vigilant.
My phone buzzed. A message from Zhao Ling'er: "8 PM tomorrow. The Lotus Pavilion. Don't be late."
I smirked. The first heroine, ripe for the plucking. In the story, she was the classic ice queen: talented cultivator from a declining family, engaged to a worthless fiance from another clan, only to be "saved" by Long Tian during a family crisis. Her loyalty to him provided the Dragon King with crucial alliances and resources. But vulnerabilities? Plenty. Pride masking insecurity, a hunger for power to restore her family's glory, and a repressed sensuality from years of arranged-marriage politics.
With Sinful Charm Lv.1, I'd exploit every crack. It wasn't just about seduction; it was domination—making her crave me, betray her destiny, and hand over everything to fuel my rise.
The jet landed smoothly, and I headed to the Li Family estate—a sprawling compound hidden behind corporate facades in Beijing's outskirts. Guards bowed as I passed, their eyes wary. Li Wei's reputation as a ruthless young master preceded me, but I'd amplify it. No more being the disposable villain; I'd become the shadow that swallowed the light.
In my chambers, I accessed the system shop again, my Villain Points now at 6200 after the auction haul.
[Shop Items Available:
Intermediate Cultivation Pill: 1000 VP – Boosts cultivation by 20%.
Mind Manipulation Technique: 4000 VP – Allows subtle influence over weaker minds.
Harem Bond Seal: 5000 VP – Binds a target emotionally, increasing loyalty and sharing minor benefits.]
Tempting. The Harem Bond Seal screamed long-term investment, but I wasn't ready to commit points yet. Instead, I bought two Intermediate Cultivation Pills.
[Purchase Complete. Villain Points: 4200.]
I swallowed one, the pill dissolving into pure Qi that flooded my system. Pain lanced through my meridians, but I endured, visualizing the dragon coiling tighter.
[Cultivation Breakthrough: Foundation Building, Early Stage.]
[Strength +5, Agility +3.]
[Level Up: Level 3.]
Power surged, my senses sharpening. I could feel the Qi in the air now, faint threads weaving through the room. Qi Sensing Lv.1 activated instinctively, revealing the guards outside at Body Refinement levels—fodder.
Satisfied, I planned for tomorrow. Dinner with Ling'er wasn't just a date; it was the first strike in stealing Long Tian's harem. I'd need intel on her family debts, her fiance's weaknesses, and any hidden cultivation secrets she held. Li Wei's memories provided some, but I'd dig deeper.
A knock at the door. "Young Master," a servant said. "Your uncle requests your presence."
Uncle Li Huan— the family patriarch, a Core Formation expert who saw Li Wei as a tool for alliances. In the novel, he sacrifices the young master to appease Long Tian later. Not happening.
I entered the grand hall, where Li Huan sat cross-legged on a jade throne, his aura oppressive. Mid-fifties, sharp beard, eyes like daggers. Around him, elders murmured about recent disturbances in Shanghai—whispers of a "returning king" stirring old grudges.
"Nephew," he boomed. "You've been... active. Word from Shanghai: you outbid some nobody for a worthless tome. Explain."
I met his gaze coolly, channeling my new charm. "Uncle, it was no worthless tome. It's the Dragon Emperor's Manual—a relic that could elevate our family above the others."
His eyes widened fractionally. "Impossible. That legend..."
"Not legend." I infused my words with Sinful Charm, a subtle warmth that made my voice persuasive. "Trust me. With it, I'll handle the Zhao merger personally. Their daughter, Ling'er—she's key."
He stroked his beard, suspicion fading under the skill's influence. "Very well. But fail, and you'll answer to the council."
As I left, the system pinged.
[Manipulation Successful: Influenced Family Patriarch.]
[Villain Points +500.]
[Luck Stolen: 1% (From Minor Plot Disruption).]
Small gains, but they added up. Long Tian's destiny was a web—I'd unravel it thread by thread.
The next evening, I arrived at the Lotus Pavilion, a high-end restaurant blending modern luxury with ancient Qi formations that suppressed eavesdropping. Dressed in a tailored black suit, the Jade Dragon Ring gleaming on my finger, I exuded confidence. Zhao Ling'er was already there, seated at a private booth overlooking the city skyline. Her emerald gown accentuated her figure, but her expression was guarded—arms crossed, lips pursed.
"Miss Zhao," I said, sliding into the seat opposite. "You look ravishing. Thank you for coming."
"Cut the flattery, Li Wei," she replied, her voice like chilled silk. "This is business. My family needs the merger, but I won't be your pawn."
I leaned forward, activating Sinful Charm. The air shimmered subtly, her vulnerabilities amplifying in my mind: fear of her family's ruin, resentment toward her spineless fiance, a buried desire for someone strong enough to lead.
"Oh, but you could be so much more than a pawn," I murmured, my eyes locking onto hers. "A queen, perhaps. With me."
She scoffed, but her cheeks tinted pink. "Arrogant as ever. What makes you think I'd entertain this?"
I signaled the waiter, ordering vintage wine infused with spirit herbs—mild aphrodisiac properties, nothing overt. As we sipped, I wove my web. "Your fiance, that fool from the Wang Family—he's cheating on you, you know. With courtesans in the red-light districts."
Her glass paused mid-air. "Lies."
"Truth." I pulled out my phone, showing discreet photos from Li Wei's spies. Her face paled, then hardened.
"Why show me this?"
"Because I see your potential, Ling'er. You're a Qi Condensation peak cultivator, talented in illusion arts. Wasted on him. With the Li Family's resources—and mine—you could break through to Foundation Building. Restore the Zhao name."
Sinful Charm pulsed stronger, her guard cracking. She leaned in slightly, her scent—jasmine and subtle Qi—intoxicating. "And what do you want in return?"
"Everything." My hand brushed hers on the table, a spark jumping between us. "Loyalty. Alliance. And... you."
Dinner progressed, the conversation shifting from business to personal. I shared fabricated vulnerabilities—Li Wei's "lonely" upbringing, my "ambitions" for a better world—tailored to her ideals. She opened up: her father's debts from failed investments in spirit mines, her mother's illness requiring rare elixirs, her own dreams of independence.
By the main course, her laughter came easier, her touches lingering. The wine helped, but it was the charm skill binding her emotions, making me irresistible.
As dessert arrived—exotic fruits laced with honeyed Qi—I made my move. "Come with me tonight, Ling'er. Let me show you what real power feels like."
She hesitated, eyes conflicted, but the manipulation held. "This... it's wrong."
"Is it?" I whispered, standing and offering my hand. "Or is it fate?"
She took it.
We left for my nearby penthouse, the city lights blurring past. In the elevator, tension built. I pulled her close, lips brushing her ear. "You deserve better than destiny's chains."
The doors opened, and we tumbled into the suite. Her gown slipped away under my fingers, revealing smooth skin glowing with restrained Qi. She was beautiful, fierce—a warrior princess yielding for the first time.
Our bodies entwined on the silk sheets, my hands exploring with calculated tenderness. I whispered promises of power, of protection, as she gasped under my touch. It wasn't just physical; I infused Sinful Charm, binding her psyche. Her moans echoed, a mix of surrender and awakening desire.
"Li Wei... Alex..." she murmured in a haze, my true name slipping out—wait, how?
No time to question. I pushed deeper, our Qi mingling in a forbidden dance. She arched, climaxing with a cry that shattered her icy facade.
As we lay spent, her head on my chest, the system activated.
[Ding! Heroine Conquered: Zhao Ling'er (Partial).]
[Villain Points +3000.]
[Luck Stolen: 15% (From Stealing Protagonist's First Harem Member).]
[New Reward: Shared Qi Link – Gain 10% of her cultivation progress.]
[Conquest Progress: 20%.]
Power flowed into me, her illusion arts faintly accessible now. But her slip-up nagged. Did the system leak something?
She stirred, eyes soft. "That was... incredible. But what now?"
"Now, you help me destroy your enemies—and mine." I kissed her forehead, masking the cold calculation. She'd betray her fiance, feed me intel on Long Tian's moves.
But as she drifted to sleep, my phone vibrated. An unknown number: "You stole my manual, villain. But you've awakened the dragon. Meet me at the Forbidden Pagoda tomorrow, or your new toy dies."
Long Tian. He'd found out already.
I grinned in the dark. Challenge accepted.
[Warning: Protagonist's Counterattack Imminent. Prepare for Battle.]
The game was escalating.
[End of Chapter 2]