Spring Winds

"Junior Brother, it's time to leave."

"Eh, I'm coming, Senior Brother." Long Yuan called back. He finished tying his robes and departed from his residence. Waiting for him was his senior brother, Head Disciple of Yun, Bai Chen.

Bai Chen gave Long Yuan a gentle smile, but Long Yuan knew that there was a greater danger to his new sect brother. In the original plot, Bai Chen didn't often appear as in the original plot-line, they wouldn't have crossed paths often. However, now that they were fellow disciples of the same master, that would make a different story.

Giving a quick smile in return, Long Yuan hastened his pace to meet his senior brother.

"Long Yuan greets Senior Brother Bai." Giving a respectful bow, Long Yuan kept the sneer in his heart before rising and giving a bright smile to Bai Chen.

"Are you ready for the Summer Selection?" Bai Chen asked.

"Ehm," Long Yuan responded, "I'm excited about what new talent may join our great sect!" But, he knew that this event would reap more than just fresh blood for the sect. Instead, Long Yuan knew that he would be destined to meet his fresh new harem members. After all, he was quite the chick magnet. Who could resist his peerless features and endless talent? They were created to please him and the audience, after all.

​

"Alright, let us head off then. Master said that he would be meeting us there." Bai Chen said before turning to leave.

"I'll follow after you." Long Yuan responded. He was giddy with excitement, 'ladies here I come!'

A small pearl appeared in front of Long Yuan and projected a holographic screen. "Host, you must remember your task; [Win the Appraisal of Master Luo]" The mechanical voice reminded.

"What! You told me I didn't need to worry about that old sack of bones!"

"Host, the system said that you did not need to worry about becoming Master Luo's disciple. However, this time, completing this task is critical. If Host fails to complete this task, you will face penalties. Not only will you lose points you will-"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it!" Exhaling a harsh growl, Long Yuan bit his thumb and contemplated his next move. "Well, whatever, it's bound to come anyway. As you said, the plane will correct itself. Just tell me my other task."

"Your second task is [Woo Harem Members. Total: 3] Host must locate at least three harem members. They will be guided to you by trigger tasks. This task can be pushed off to a later date, but your deadline is in 3 weeks. Do you accept?"

"I accept."

"Tasks confirmed: [Win the Appraisal of Master Luo] by winning Master Luo's appraisal, you will be able to unlock the next segment of the plot. [Woo Harem Members. Total: 3] by gaining plus three harem members, you will be able to level up to level 4, and your male protagonist halo will increase in strength by 1%."

"Just 1%! What kind of rip off is that!?! You're telling me that I have run around the area and complete all of these tasks, to gain 1%?" Honestly, this system was a hack he scoffed.

"Host, by running about, you will also be able to level up to level 4. Also, 1% percent is for your benefit. Not only will it make you a harder opponent to defeat, but you will also be able to reach more harem members as you go, " the robotic voice retorted.

"Eh, whatever. I better go." Long Yuan waved his hand, and the holographic screen disappears in a flash. He soon revealed a c.o.c.ky grin and left for the direction of his senior brother.

Soon enough, Long Yuan and the rest of the remaining disciples arrived at the grand coliseum and filtered into their respective seats, located at the foot of the Yun Sect mountain ranges. It was close to the main entrance, through the path to it was off to the side, it was wide enough to seat not only all the sect disciples but the visitors and competitors as well. No matter where one was sitting, you were bound to be able to see part of the action. And in case if the fight gets a bit dangerous, the sect had created protection barriers around the entire stage so that the fight wouldn't affect the audience. After all, no one likes to be mistakenly hit by lightning.

Looking up around the arena, Long Yuan spotted his Senior Brother in the Sect Master's seating box.

"Sorry, that I'm a bit late Senior Brother, I had to check something." Long Yuan said sheepishly.

Bai Chen returned his apology with a gentle smile. "It's no issue. Come and sit. The selection competition is about to start." And he gestured to towards a seat next to him.

Giving a bow of thanks, Long Yuan quickly sat down and waited for the show to start. He knew that Summer Selection would happen over three days, and for each day, he was supposed to capture one harem member successfully, or he could take a gamble and take in three all at once in one day. Ahh, he thought, decisions decisions.

The seats in front of him were lucky not occupied, so he didn't need to worry about craning his neck. And even if he did, he could have the system pull up a screen of the action. It wouldn't be any different than how he watched sports in the modern era.

Well, the absence of other spectators in his viewing box maybe because wasn't a lot of disciples under the Sect Master at the start. The order of seating is that in the front row is the lowest of disciples and spectators. These seats were usually stone benches or wooden planks. The higher one was up in the stands, the more comfortable the area — for example, more space, food service, and cushioned seats. And the master of the peak would have one of the best places in the house, so the Sect Master is genuinely in the lap of luxury. The ones seated close to their master were usually in a higher position as well, so Long Yuan wasn't suffering one bit under the tutelage of the Sect Master.

"Ahh, the view from here is truly great." Long Yuan sighed out.

"Ehm, it gives us an amply view of the area." Bai Chen answered back.

Yes, amply view of the area, Long Yuan thought. However, his eyes were not lingering onto the stage where the competition was starting. He was admiring all of the young beauties that sprinkled around the audience.

"Host," the pearl called out. "Would you like to activate your potential radar?"

"What the hell are you doing all of a sudden? What if someone sees you?" Long Yuan scolded out in a whisper. Bai Chen looked at him strangely, but Long Yuan looked back in an awkward smile before turning away to glare at the accused pearl.

"Don't worry, Host, no one else but yourself, so by glaring at the system, you look crazy."

Long Yuan, froze and then attempted to regain his calm appearance.

"Host, there is no need to talk, just press confirm if you would like to activate this potential radar." A small screen appeared by Long Yuan's armrest reading 'activate or later.' Long Yuan pushed selected 'activate.'

"Activating potential radar, host, please wait a few seconds." The screen displayed a loading bar, and soon enough, the bar was full. "Potential radar is activated."

"Wow." Long Yuan clicked his tongue. As if he were wearing a holographic lens, he could look at a person and read off their stats. What their name was, what titles they held, and even their cultivation and martial arts level. 'It's like a game,' he thought. He looked around and checked out the levels of some of the participants.

—

Lu Yang

Titles: n/a

Gender: M

Age: 14

Cultivator: Peak Inferior Mortal Core

Martial Arts: n/a

Roots: Earth

—

Hmm, he thought, not bad. He looked over at a young girl he was checking out earlier. She was wearing a bright yellow dress with red bows adorned on her two hair buns.

—

Li Xiao Yu

Titles: n/a

Gender: F

Age: 14

Cultivator: Peak Superior Core Foundation.

Martial Arts: n/a

Roots: Fire

Harem Potential: 146

—

"Uh, system, what does the Harem Potential limit too?"

"The number is a given is the amount of potential the person has to enter the harem. The bare minimum is 250. If Host wishes to continue chasing after a female with a low potential score, having more interaction with them will raise their potential," the mechanic voice explained.

"So, like a dating sim, I need to raise affection levels to lower scores?"

"Not necessarily Host. The females with the highest potential are those that the plotline had guided out for Host and are the ones most likely to join the harem. The females with lower potential are ones that aren't in the original plot harem; therefore, we cannot determine how well they will integrate. However, if you feel that you need to have this person, you are free to attempt to raise their potential score."

"Oh, okay." Long Yuan attempted to wrap his head around what he just learned. So he could add more women to his harem than the plot intended? Sweet! He planned on wooing the hearts of all the beauties around the land. He is given free rein to do as he pleased as long it was within the rules.

Eyes darting around the colosseum, his eyes landed on a quieter section of the arena. Unlike the rest of peak master's boxes, this one was secluded from the rest, as if they were away from sect politics.

Also, it appeared a lot more withdrawn than the rest of the adorned boxes; however, it maintained a sense of elegance and dignity. It was decorated with dark scented wood with carvings of clouds and magnolias and surrounded by nearly sheer white curtains with magnolias embroidered on the edges. It is thus making sure that the occupants were not only relaxed and comfortable but allowed them to be shielded from the sun and onlookers as well as give them a good view of the area below.

"Senior Brother Bai, who is seated in that box over there?" His lenses couldn't seem to penetrate the area. Even when he refreshed the screen, what would pop up were question marks.

Bai Chen looked over to where his junior brother was gesturing. "Oh, that's Master Luo and his disciples' seating area."

"Why are they so far away?"

"Well, you've heard the rumors, right?"

"Yes," he already read this part of the book, but the original Long Yuan didn't sit in the box that he saw today. It was an anomaly to the plot. Perhaps there was a change due to his arrival.

"Well, Master told me before, that Master Luo is our Sect's Grand Martial Uncle. However, he follows his master's teachings of being isolated for periods. His peak doesn't follow that standard customs as the rest of the sect does."

"Hmm, I believe he has two disciples, right? Two girls?"

"Yes, even though they were women, they managed to be top rankers in the Spring Admission. If Master Luo didn't pick them, they would probably be fought over by other peaks in their division."

"Hmm." Long Yuan looked back over to Master Luo's box and hoped to see a glimpse of these two girls. As if heavens were on his side, a gush of wind moved the curtains just enough to see two veiled girls dressed in light gray robes.

However, the one that seemed to exceed cold calm energy was the one that made his heart thump loudly. A veil covered her face, but it could do nothing to hide her beauty. She lounged in her seat like an expensive cat. However, her most attractive feature was her eyes. They were in the shape of peach blossoms and were sharp and clear.

He found out that she was right after him in the spiritual test for Spring Admissions, and he mentally kicked himself for not asking for her name, even though he was right next to her. Also, even though he was the Sect Master's disciple, he couldn't gain any knowledge about Master Luo's mysterious disciples.

But one thing for sure, he knew that he had to have her. After all, which woman in this world didn't belong to him?

Long Yuan continued to stare at Master Luo's viewing box in hopes that he would see that elegant woman once more.

"Warning Host!"

"What! What is happening?!?" Long Yuan tore his eyes away from Master Luo's box, and his lens seemed to have crashed as they displayed a bold sign "Error: System Malfunction" on the screen.

Looking back at Master Luo's box, he felt a sharp and intense glare coming his way. And for the first time in a long time, Long Yuan felt fear.