My CEO Harem Cultivation System

"The Mashiro Temple Sect live in harmony and unity, and while each of the women here have their own robes, essential items and even room to stay in for their privacy—most of the utilities and items available here are for everyone," Mareena said.

Tomura added, quick to reassure her. "But the good performing Priestesses are also awarded for their exemplary deeds and extra effort—beast cores, special scrolls and such."

"Although higher ranked Priestesses also tend to share or give them to younger Priestesses that need assistance," Leila said with a smile, it had a touch of guilt in it. "They are good people, although it's natural to get intimidated with them."

In the dining hall and at the end of it—more powerful Priestesses like Mitsuko, Kei and others were eating in silence. It was as if they had their own little world, separated from the rest of the Priestesses only donning white robes.

Setsuko crossed her arms and eyed the other women at the table. "What do you mean by that… sharing is caring? Whatever I have is expected to be given to someone else. Doesn't seem like a reward if you put it that way."

"It's not that bad—" Ellwyn smiled at the younger woman. Unlike the other Priestesses here with them, she understood the reluctance of Setsuko. "People here tend to ask permission before they borrow things belonging to you."

"The word here seems to be 'tend', Priestess Ellwyn." Setsuko Hirayama pointed out. Li Yang had left earlier, but before she could stand up—she felt a throb in her heart, a sensation that told her that the man wanted to be left alone.

It was why she was here… but at least she could see that both Leila and Mitsuko were in the dining hall like her. The situation of the man wanting to have some alone time for himself was quite common and so she let it be.

She needed to get her head focused on her goals.

Setsuko Hirayama needed to get stronger, not only just because he wanted it—but because she couldn't tolerate herself for being this weak and content with it before. She was naive enough to think that being a normal hunter and retiring was satisfying.

Leila's friends shared a silent look with one another. Setsuko's attitude was a little too blunt for them, and it was a wonder on how Leila managed to get on her good side. Although, it actually didn't feel like that.

It was obvious to everyone that Leila was infatuated with Setsuko's consort.

Setsuko didn't seem willing to share him with anyone else. Which was fair, what was hers was hers—but it was like torturing a hungry dog with a big slab of meat and telling it to stay in place.

Unbeknownst to them, Setsuko didn't see the man as her property at all. If she had a choice—she'd probably want him all for herself, but their relationship wasn't like that. Her gaze flickered to Leila.

This younger and beautiful Priestess who got away with all of her requests because she had doting older Priestesses.

Setsuko sighed and pushed back her plate. "Please forgive me for my words—I'm rather exhausted after all the training today. I'll have to head back to my room now."

The three other Priestesses eyed Priestess Leila who looked at Setsuko with a longing look, not for her, but to tag along. While it had actually been some days since she got invited to Setsuko and Yang's quarters…  she still didn't like having her around one bit.

Setsuko bowed and pretended not to see her. "Have a good evening, I'll see you guys tomorrow. Thank you for a short introduction on how things worked here."

Without waiting for another word, Setsuko left the dining hall and headed back to the living quarters. She fumed to herself in annoyance. Why couldn't she just ask Li Yang how he saw her? A friend? Lover?

Her heart faltered at the imagined scenario that she envisioned. It was the sight of the man looking down at her with a surprised look. What if he told her that he simply thought of her as someone he slept with and had no other concerns for her beyond that? A temporary and passing flame for him to pay attention to.

Setsuko stomped through the hallways and pushed the thought away.

It was for that reason alone that she didn't dare openly oppose Leila or complain about Mitsuko. She did not know her own standing—

Priestess Rei's door slammed shut at the same time she arrived in the hallway. Her thoughts immediately jumped to Li Yang and a bitter feeling welled in her stomach, but she still walked forward and opened the door to her room.

She came across the man in his bed, currently in a lotus position.

Her gaze was sharp enough to notice the outline of an aura surrounding him. He had two different kinds of Beast Cores: One was a deep blue hue rested on his right knee and the other was a yellow one on the left.

All three of them simultaneously glowed and flowed around him.

Setsuko placed a hand to her mouth, her stomach turned to nervousness—two all at once? They were of differing elements and natures—the Beast Cores may have initially glowed and trailed their own bright lights, but at the center of the aura that surrounded him, all of the three colors turned null.

Each wildly various element that might cause a terrible reaction with one another, and especially for an insufficient body ended up negated by him all thanks to his current spiritual roots.

Null spiritual roots. 

[ Congratulations! You Have Absorbed The Medium Spiritual Beast Core Into Your Body ]

[ Purity: 75% Blue Striped Koi Demon Fish ]

[ Condition: Meridian Deluged (Negated) ]

[ Individual's Roots Has Rejected The Negative Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ]

[ Condition: Water of Spheres (Negated) ]

[ Individual's Roots Has Rejected The Positive Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ]

The terrible and beneficial conditions were both ignored completely.

[ Congratulations! You Have Absorbed The Medium Lightning Beast Core Into Your Body ]

[ Purity: 80% Yellow Lightning Raging Baboon  ]

[ Condition: Electrocution of Physical Body (Negated) ]

[ Individual's Roots Has Rejected The Negative Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ]

[ Condition: Vigor of the Primate (Negated) ]

[ Individual's Roots Has Rejected The Positive Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ]

Both of the cores that rested on his knees became dull in color, before finally dispersing into dust.

[ Cultivate Absorbed Energy Into Innate Energy? ]

Yes.

Once it was done, then the next step.

[ Welcome to the Patched System ]

Personal Status

Main Quests

Achievement Quests

Companion Interface

New Zone Warper 

Points Shop

Finally—

[ New Zone Warper ]

Access different worlds in different planes according to the Host's current strength levels.

You Have Used The New Zone Warper Once.

System Currently Gathering Energy For Next Jump (5% Charged)

A loud sigh escaped the man's lips at the number—a total of five high medium beast cores dense with Ao and reabsorbed by him only amounted to this much? It was a little disappointing. He opened his eyes and found himself meeting the gaze of Setsuko.

He hadn't noticed that she was even there. "Miss Setsuko?"

"You've already used up all of the Beast Cores that Priestess Leila gave you, huh?" The woman walked over to him and plopped on the bed. She was comfortable being in his presence, but having him closer was even better. 

She didn't want to imagine what would happen if they separated… 

"Indeed."

"Was it enough?" she asked.

"No."

"Oh." 

Someone who had been capable of awakening her power naturally needed more to be satisfied. Setsuko bit her lip, but nodded. "There seems to be a test or a contest coming up for Priestesses undergoing training—I'm joining it, and once I do, I'll give the Beast Cores to you."

Li Yang raised a brow. "What about you? You also need it for your own use."

"I don't need it." Setsuko smiled at him, and took the courage to inch closer to him. While she was capable of acting like a clingy Lady to him in public, when they were in private—she was afraid of touching him. A little hesitant, she clung to her pride as his previous superior in the Kin Hunters.

"You really are strong," he said and eyed her.

Powerful bloodlines. 

Setsuko had the blood of a demi-human fox.

Bai Minghua was a pure-blooded Mermaid.

And even Ying Yue He had an ancient bloodline of Epicurean. 

He could try to unlock his—but what were the chances that he had something special like them? If the Li family had any sort of special bloodline then it didn't make sense that they'd forget about it. His family was too calculative to even actually ignore if they were in any chance possessing something that made them powerful.

Setsuko Hirayama shook her head and motioned to herself. "I won't be anywhere near this powerful if it weren't for you—it's all thanks to you, Yang."

It was only because he used his knowledge and experimented, but he shrugged. "I've only managed to tap into it and awaken the dormant energy—other than that, the rest of your ability is up to you."

There was something about Setsuko that threw him off, if only lightly. Maybe it was because she was grateful to him now that made their relationship dynamics different than what it had been at the start. It wasn't necessarily unpleasant, to have a person indebted to him was fine.

It only meant he had a lot to collect in terms of Beast Cores.

Setsuko threw her back against the mattress and sighed loudly. "But it really is tiring to be here… I'm just glad that you're learning with Priestess Mitsuko?"

He glanced down at her, but nodded. "I am."

"I could have helped you by myself, you know?" She muttered underneath her breath.

Li Yang wasn't sure how he was supposed to react to that… she actually intended him to hear it. But if anything, Setsuko might just end up disappointed once he told her that it was necessary that it was Mitsuko.

—-—-

Author's Note: Thank you for reading today's chapter. It's a little slow and some of you may truly be thinking that Li Yang is idiotic for deciding not to upgrade his roots xD But yes, he's not a risk-taker here. Maybe he'll do it if there's a guaranteed chance to unlock a powerful bloodline. If you have any suggestions! Wink wink.

Although uh, a little heads up for June, my four-month guaranteed payment with NovelFull is about to end so you know the drill, guys. I'm still keeping the Panda Promo though :)