Spring Winds

"I think I'm getting the hang of this, Zhuang Zhi.

Doing these moves come as easily as breathing." Swinging his blade, Long Yuan successfully sliced a falling petal in half. Coming out of his sleeve, the tiny pearl did a slight nod. At least, to the best of its ability.

"Yes, Host's progress in absorbing the technique "Falling Petals' Sorrow" is nearly complete.

Keep working hard, Host."

"Hmm, what can I say? I'm a genius." Flipping his blade, it soon returned to its ring form on his finger. "However, all of this is taking longer than I had expected.

Didn't the original Long Yuan master this technique and others within a week? How come my progress is delayed?"

"Unlike the original Long Yuan" — the pearl swirled up to meet his eye level — "he had the support of his harem member, Bai Yin, whose affiliation with alchemy helped boost his cultivation progress, via enhancement pills."

"Herm, I see," Long Yuan grumbled. He'd rather not think about how a woman managed to slip through his fingers—especially one who would've made his life a lot easier in the long run.

'I still can't believe that Bai Chen managed to gather the balls to confess to Bai Yin that night.'

After all, in the original plotline, Bai Chen suffered in silence during the entirety of Long Yuan's courtship of Bai Yin.

Long Yuan had thought that Bai Yin would've become his one way or another, but he was too late in his pursuit. Bai Chen captured Bai Yin's affections, and the two were already set to be engaged in the summer.

'Ah, to think that Bai Yin would actually harbor some feelings for her brother as well.

Heh, what a fitting pair.'

Even more surprising for Long Yuan was the fact that his master, Sect Master Qing Shui, would actually agree to marry the two!

"Tch. How ridiculous." She should've been his!

"Calm down, Host." The pearl chided. "There are plenty of fish in the sea, as you humans say.

The plot would naturally correct itself to mend this change.

Also, this system advises that you keep your current paramours happy before you start grumbling about one who didn't even harbor intentions of being with you."

Long Yuan had already started to form his harem at a humble number of fifteen women. Far off from the harem, the original Long Yuan had a couple hundred, but he'd get there in due time.

At this rate, his back courtyard would be bustling full of women within a few years.

'Heh, a man can die with no regrets if he managed to snag a beautiful woman as a wife.'

"You're right, Zhuang Zhi.

There's plenty of wonderful women out there. What's the use of wasting my precious time on one of many to come?

Soon, this realm will be mine, and doesn't that include its inhabitants?"

Of course, his ambitions were greater than that. Long Yuan fully intended to outdo the original Long Yuan in every way possible.

After all, he was just a blueprint.

Who knows what else the story didn't cover?

"Host, you should focus on your tasks." The pearl reminded me. "These next few months will be vital in preparation for the big event: The Summer Hunt.

There will be plenty of growth opportunities."

If his memory of the novel was correct, the Summer Hunt was a significant event in the novel's earlier sections.

During this event, the original Long Yuan had to face the challenges of competing with other sect disciples in the Mystic Treasure Realm, a hidden pocket of heavenly treasure that only appears once every one thousand years.

Of course, it would be natural to gain more than just treasure and special tools in that realm. The women that he would meet there would also be quite valuable as well.

The head disciple of a well-respected martial arts academy, a fallen celestial fairy, and a surprise demon woman.

He couldn't remember what kind of demon, but the prospect of another member to his harem did make him excited in more ways than one.

'Although, I should probably pay a visit to my beauties before then.

It wouldn't be good if there were infighting between them. Plus, it would be a good opportunity for them to get used to the idea of this master adding more women to the back courtyard.

After all, how could I only settle with this small number?

It's simply unbecoming of someone who's destined to become ruler of the realm.'

At this rate, perhaps he was going to have a larger harem than Genghis Khan[1]. And that wasn't entirely a bad idea in his mind…

"This system advises that hosts stop having such… lascivious thoughts during this time. It could hinder your cultivation."

"Yes, yes. I apologize that I'm a healthy young man. Honestly, Zhuang Zhi, you need to have more faith in this master.

Plus, can't I have a little fun here and there? I've been working my ass off during the entirety of that ridiculous mission."

Luckily he had gotten some good stuff during that trip. Otherwise, it would've been just a complete was of time.

"..."

Zhuang Zhi wished that its Host was more reasonable and agreeable.

After these past few months, little wrinkles have started to form on its smooth pearly body just from the stress alone. It wished that its Host would stop getting sidetracked by women and focus on increasing his power.

As the saying goes:

"First, you get the money, power, and respect.

Women always come last."

Unfortunately for Zhuang Zhi, Long Yuan decided to give a giant middle finger to that procedure and jumped straight into his harem building. In essence, he was neglecting his foundation of success.

Host is getting too comfortable, the pearl thought.

How is their Host supposed to become the ruler of the realm if he keeps delaying his progress exchange for more time with various women?

Regardless, Zhuang Zhi couldn't deny its Host's progress was quite impressive. In just a few months, Long Yuan was already on the cusps of reaching a high-tier Core Formation Stage.

Just steps away from becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator at the ripe young age of eighteen.

"Host, this system hopes that you recall some of the details regarding this next event." The pearl reminded him. To which Long Yuan disregarded with a shrug.

"I recall, Zhuang Zhi.

A heaven trial will be bestowed upon me at random during the duration of this event. I'm aware, and I'm prepared.

Plus, with my current status, who would dare change this master?"

"..." If the pearl had hands and a face, it would've been rubbing its brow in mild frustration over the Host's lack of concern.

The next event that Long Yuan would face contained a side event that wasn't in the original script. Instead, it was something of a surprise that the realm had formed on its own.

In other words, the world has started to figure out that Long Yuan's soul and his very existence were an anomaly, as he would remove him from the face of the earth.

Permanently.

Therefore, these past few months of preparation were so that Long Yuan would finally be able to assimilate into this world completely. If Long Yuan could survive this side event, then his steps to being the god of the realm wouldn't be a distant fantasy.

Also, it hoped that this challenging event would humble its Host to some degree.

To know that he isn't all-powerful nor all-knowing, not yet.

And that his destiny was subject to change should he stray too far from the original guidelines.

A reckless host is never good. They're too unpredictable and could cause riffs in the space and time of the realm.

Also, a disobedient Host was hard to control.

This presumptuous behavior will need to be changed within the next few months if it ever hoped of completing its task of forming the perfect hero.

"This system hopes that Host is ready for what is to come soon."

"Naturally.

What is something that I haven't been prepared for since I came here? Every single event, every single task, has been executed to perfection.

Therefore, I don't see what's there to be worried about."

"This system can only remind Host that Host's fate is subject to change depending on the world's corrections."

"But ultimately, my fate is set in stone."

"Yes." The pearl agreed.

"Host's fate is already set in stone."

"Good, let's keep it that way, then." Long Yuan smiled as he read over the chapters detailing the coming event.

"Let's work hard, Zhuang Zhi."

[1] Genghis Khan - was the founder and first Great Khan (Emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia. After founding the Empire and being proclaimed Genghis Khan (an honorary title ascending possibly from the Turkic "tengiz" — (sea) meaning "the oceanic, universal ruler"), he launched the Mongol invasions that conquered most of Eurasia, reaching as far west as Poland in Europe and the Levant in the Middle East. Although Genghis Khan had an official record of roughly 12 wives, there are many more that haven't been recorded. If your knowledge of this guy's history is good, then you know that he only picked four sons out of many children to become his successor. Anyways, I threw him in as a comparison for Long Yuan's ambitions because 1 out of 200 men today is direct descendants of Genghis Khan. Long Yuan sure has high hopes…