Chapter 234: The Harem Status Update
The cave fell quiet.
Damon lay on his back, staring at the stone ceiling.
His chest rose and fell in slow, steady breaths.
His body hummed with energy, the combined yin qi of six women circulating through his meridians like a river of molten silver.
Beside him, Ariel was the first to stir.
She shifted, her head lifting from his shoulder, her dark blue hair falling across her face.
Her eyes were hazy, unfocused, still lost in the aftermath of the cycle.
"Did it work?" she asked.
Damon smiled.
"Better than expected."
He sat up slowly, careful not to disturb the others.
Mio was sprawled across his legs, her face pressed into his thigh.
Mia was curled against his side, her fingers still gripping his arm.
Seraphina lay at the foot of the bed, her lime-green hair fanned out across the stone.
Alena was sitting against the wall, her knees drawn up, her eyes closed.
Flare was on the far edge of the bed, her back turned to the group, her breathing steady.
Damon activated his Incubus Celestial Eyes.
The world shifted.
Golden light bloomed in his vision, and the status windows appeared before him, one for each woman.
He started with Ariel.
[Name: Ariel Aquaria]
[Age: 17]
[Cultivation: Earth Spirit Realm - Ninth Level]
[Relationship: Madly in Love]
[Interest: 2000/10000]
[Chastity: Claim by Damon Arcknight]
[Lust: 0/100]
[Affinities: Water: 80, Spear: 100]
[Spiritual Roots: Sea Spiritual Roots] [Heaven Grade - Low]
[Bloodline: Blood of Sea Princess] [Earth Grade - Low]
[Physique: Body of Sea Princess] [Earth Grade - Low]
[Traits: Sensitive Body, Graceful, Young Lady, Kind, Loyal, Lustful]
He blinked.
Ninth Level.
She had jumped five levels in a single cycle.
Ariel noticed his expression. "What?"
"You’re at the peak of Earth Spirit Realm."
Her eyes went wide. "What?"
She scrambled to sit up, her hands flying to her chest, her spiritual sense probing her own dantian. A moment later, her jaw dropped.
"I... I’m at the peak."
Damon nodded.
"The cycle accelerated your foundation. Your Sea Princess Bloodline absorbed more yin qi than I expected."
Ariel stared at her hands. They were trembling.
"I can feel it," she whispered. "The barrier to Heavenly Spirit. It’s right there."
"Don’t push it," Damon said. "Let it settle. You’ll break through naturally within the week."
She looked at him, her eyes shining.
"I love you."
Damon smiled.
"I know."
He turned his gaze to the twins.
[Name: Mio Nightrider]
[Age: 23]
[Cultivation: Heavenly Spirit Realm - Fifth Level]
[Relationship: Deeply in Love]
[Interest: 4150/5000]
[Chastity: Claim by Damon Arcknight]
[Lust: 0/100]
[Affinities: Dark: 100, Bow: 70]
[Spiritual Roots: Void Spiritual Roots] [Heaven Grade - Low]
[Bloodline: Blood of Void Sniper] [Earth Grade - Low]
[Physique: Body of Void Sniper] [Earth Grade - Low]
[Traits: Cheerful, Natural Archer, Loyal, Airhead, Doting Big-Sister]
[Name: Mia Nightrider]
[Age: 23]
[Cultivation: Heavenly Spirit Realm - Fifth Level]
[Relationship: Deeply in Love]
[Interest: 1380/5000]
[Chastity: Claim by Damon Arcknight]
[Lust: 0/100]
[Affinities: Dark: 100, Dagger: 70]
[Spiritual Roots: Shadow Spiritual Roots] [Heaven Grade - Low]
[Bloodline: Blood of Shadow Queen] [Earth Grade - Low]
[Physique: Body of Shadow Queen] [Earth Grade - Low]
[Traits: Shy, Natural Assassin, Loyal, Intelligent, Close Pervert, Masochist]
They had advanced three levels.
Mio was the first to wake, her eyes fluttering open, her purple hair a mess.
"Did I hear Ariel say she’s at the peak?"
"You did."
Mio shot upright. "What about me?"
"Fifth Level Heavenly Spirit."
Her face lit up. "Yes!"
She punched the air, then immediately winced as the motion pulled something in her back.
"Worth it," she muttered.
Mia stirred beside Damon, her hand tightening on his arm.
"Fifth Level?" she asked, her voice sleepy.
"Both of you."
Mia smiled, a rare, genuine smile that softened her usually guarded features.
"Good."
She pressed her face into his shoulder and closed her eyes again.
Damon turned to Seraphina.
[Name: Seraphina]
[Age: 27]
[Cultivation: Heavenly Spirit Realm - Fourth Level]
[Relationship: In Love]
[Interest: 900/1000]
[Chastity: Claim by Damon Arcknight]
[Lust: 0/100]
[Affinities: Wind: 125, Lighting: 125]
[Spiritual Roots: Storm Spiritual Roots] [Heaven Grade - Low]
[Bloodline: Blood of Azure Dragon Bloodline] [Heaven Grade - Low]
[Physique: Body of Azure Dragon Physique] [Heaven Grade - Low]
[Traits: Calm Before the Storm, Obsessive Perfectionist, Lonely, Swift Perception.]
She had advanced two levels.
Seraphina was already awake, sitting cross-legged at the foot of the bed, her eyes closed, her breathing steady.
She was cycling her qi, testing the limits of her new power.
"Fourth Level," Damon said.
She opened her eyes.
"I know."
Her voice was calm, but there was a warmth in it that hadn’t been there before.
"The Azure Dragon Bloodline is responding to the scripture. The combination is... potent."
"Good."
She nodded once, then closed her eyes and resumed her meditation.
Damon looked at Flare.
[Name: Flare]
[Age: 21]
[Cultivation: Heavenly Spirit Realm - Third Level]
[Relationship: Taking an interest]
[Interest: 99/100]
[Chastity: Claim by Damon Arcknight]
[Lust: 0/100]
[Affinities: Fire: 180, Nature: 85, Staff: 60]
[Spiritual Roots: Divine Flame Spiritual Roots] [Earth Grade - Peak]
[Bloodline: Blood of Phoenix] [Heaven Grade - Low]
[Physique: N/A]
[Traits: Fiery, Prideful, Heat Seeker, Direct, Blunt.]
She had advanced two levels.
Flare was still lying on her side, her back to the group. But Damon could see her shoulders were tense.
"Flare."
No response.
"Flare, you’re at Third Level Heavenly Spirit."
A long pause.
Then, quietly.
"I know."
She didn’t turn around.
Damon didn’t push.
He turned to Alena.
[Name: Alena Terra]
[Age: 24]
[Cultivation: Heavenly Spirit Realm - Second Level]
[Relationship: In Love]
[Interest: 950/1000]
[Chastity: Claim by Damon Arcknight]
[Lust: 78/100]
[Affinities: Earth: 90, Nature: 95, Staff: 70]
[Spiritual Roots: Verdant Spiritual Roots] [Heaven Grade - Low]
[Bloodline: Blood of Verdant Alchemist] [Mortal Grade - Peak]
[Physique: Body of Verdant Alchemist] [Mortal Grade - Peak]
[Traits: Dedicated, Patient, Perfectionist, Obsessive over Recipes, Surprisingly Fierce, Herb Detector]
She had advanced one level.
Alena was sitting against the wall, her eyes open, her expression thoughtful.
"Second Level," she said before Damon could speak.
"Yes."
She nodded slowly.
"The data is consistent. The scripture transfers yang qi in proportion to the depth of the connection. Since I am the newest member of the group, my absorption rate was the lowest."
Damon raised an eyebrow.
"You’re analyzing this."
"Of course." She looked at him.
"I’m an alchemist. Everything is data."
Damon laughed.
"Fair enough."
Alena’s lips twitched, almost a smile.
"But I’m not complaining. One level in a single cycle is still remarkable by any standard."
"It is."
She held his gaze for a moment, then looked away.
"Thank you."
The words were quiet, almost reluctant.
Damon smiled.
"You’re welcome."