My Xianxia Harem Life

"I’m sorry," Riley said with an awkward smile.

He may have been the most powerful man in this lower realm now, but at the end of the day, he was still a man—and an inexperienced one at that.

In fact, even the original Riley Mason had been a virgin.

"It’s no problem, Young Master Riley. Please, have a seat," Daoist Midnight Lotus replied, her voice smooth and enchanting, her smile like a delicate hook pulling him deeper under her spell.

Riley hesitated for a moment, his confidence momentarily wavering as her beauty seemed to envelop the entire room.

But this time, he was determined not to make a fool of himself.

With great effort, he adjusted his golden robes, carefully covering the obvious bulge that had betrayed him, and took a seat across from her.

His gaze wandered despite himself, drawn to her slim, alluring figure clad in her all-black attire.

Every detail seemed designed to tease the imagination—her fitted robes hugged her curves perfectly, while the faint shimmer of fabric hinted at her lithe form underneath.

But it wasn’t just her appearance that captivated him; the eerie black staff carelessly placed beside her radiated an ominous yet unimaginative strange energy.

Riley’s eyes lingered on it for a moment before they returned to her.

A dozen breaths passed as he fought to calm the storm of emotions and impulses raging inside him. Finally, he gathered his courage and met her gaze.

Her dark, mesmerizing eyes held his effortlessly, and her naturally red, kissable lips curved into a knowing smile.

It was a smile that could unravel armies and melt the strongest of men.

Riley felt his pulse quicken as she leaned slightly forward, her scent—a mix of exotic florals and something darker, more mysterious—flooding his senses.

She was a vision, her long black hair cascading like a silken waterfall over her shoulders.

Everything about her—her voice, her poise, even the air around her—was designed to entice and command attention.

Riley clenched his fists beneath the table, forcing himself to focus.

His heightened senses were betraying him, amplifying every detail and threatening to drown him in desire.

Get a grip, Riley! he scolded himself silently.

Still, even as he worked to maintain control, he couldn’t help but admire the woman before him.

Daoist Midnight Lotus wasn’t just beautiful—she was a dangerous enigma, a living embodiment of temptation and power.

Still, she was nothing more than a mere ant in comparison to him.

He could easily slap her to death if he wanted to—after all, she was merely in the Nascent Soul Realm, far weaker than her father, the sect master.

Despite her striking beauty and commanding presence, her cultivation level was nothing before him.

According to the sect records, Daoist Midnight Lotus was already over 200 years old, though her flawless appearance made it impossible to tell.

Time had clearly treated her well, but in the grand scheme of power, it mattered little to Riley.

She was but a flickering candle compared to the inferno he commanded.

"I appreciate you meeting with me, Young Master Riley," Midnight Lotus began, her voice smooth and composed, carrying an air of authority.

Her piercing eyes studied him, unblinking.

"I simply wanted to see the sect’s new genius and prodigy for myself. The elders seem convinced that my father has spoon-fed you boundless sect resources to propel you from the 5th stage of Body Refinement Realm to the Golden Core Realm overnight. Their vision, however, is limited. Both of us know that’s not the truth."

She leaned slightly forward, her black robes flowing like liquid shadows as she continued.

"It’s impossible for someone to skip all those stages and realms in just a single day—unless, of course, they harbor a great secret within them."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Riley felt the weight of her gaze, the kind of look that seemed to pierce through facades and dig into the core of one’s being.

He knew this wasn’t idle curiosity; Midnight Lotus had come armed with more than just rumors.

He hesitated for a moment, his mind racing.

She knows too much. Riley clenched his fists, considering his options.

Lying would be risky, especially in front of someone so perceptive.

He’d only make a fool of himself—and he couldn’t afford to lose face in front of a woman like her.

"It was simply a fortuitous encounter, Daoist Midnight Lotus," Riley said at last, his voice steady as he forced a big smile.

"I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time."

Even as he spoke, Riley couldn’t help but notice again the effect Midnight Lotus had on him.

Her beauty was overwhelming—beyond mortal comprehension. She was a goddess in the flesh, exuding an allure that made even the most disciplined men falter.

In her presence, Ava, the so-called beauty of the sect, seemed utterly insignificant. Ava wouldn’t even be worthy of washing Midnight Lotus’s feet.

Riley fought the urge to lose himself completely.

The impulse to use his Soul Dominion ability on her flickered in his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

No, he reminded himself. With great power comes great responsibility.

He wasn’t going to let his newfound strength corrupt him.

Still, the thought lingered—Midnight Lotus was truly a great catch, a woman whose presence alone could stir kingdoms and sects alike to war.

Midnight Lotus raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint, knowing smile.

"A fortuitous encounter, huh? Is that really it?" she said, her tone carrying a subtle challenge.

"Or does it have something to do with your grandfather—the one my father claims is his secret teacher, Daoist Shadow Master? A name I’d never even heard before today."

Riley straightened his posture, meeting her gaze with calm resolve.

"I can’t answer that," he said firmly, shaking his head. His tone left no room for argument, yet it wasn’t confrontational.

The so-called Shadow Master was nothing more than a fabrication Riley had conjured from thin air.

But, of course, Midnight Lotus didn’t need to know that.

"…" Midnight Lotus studied him for a long moment, her dark eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read his soul.

The room grew quiet, the tension palpable.

Finally, she leaned back in her seat, a small smirk playing on her lips.

"Interesting," she murmured, her voice soft but brimming with intrigue.

"Very well, Young Master Riley. For now, I’ll let the matter rest."

Despite her words, Riley could tell that this wasn’t over. Midnight Lotus was like a serpent coiled in the shadows, patient and calculating.

She would continue probing, biding her time until she uncovered the truth.

As Riley sat there, his heart steady but his thoughts chaotic, one thing was clear—this woman wasn’t just beautiful and powerful. She was dangerous.

The meeting concluded, but Riley couldn’t shake the lingering thought gnawing at his mind.

Should I have used Soul Dominion on Midnight Lotus earlier? The question echoed within him, each repetition chipping away at his confidence.

He let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the now-empty spot where Midnight Lotus and her entourage had departed.

Her presence had left the air charged, and yet Riley remained frozen, second-guessing every decision he had made during their interaction.

"Sigh... I’m still too soft in this xianxia world," Riley muttered, his voice low with self-reproach.

His fists clenched at his sides as frustration boiled beneath the surface.

"Ahhh… sect politics is killing me. I guess I can’t even go home right now," Riley muttered under his breath, frustration evident in his voice.

He could feel at least three spiritual senses subtly spying on him at that very moment.

He was sure that one of them came from a servant of Daoist Midnight Lotus.

Bringing such trouble back to his clan was out of the question, so staying within the sect’s protective walls was his only option for now.

Still, Riley couldn’t relax entirely. Using his divine sense, he checked on his family back in Greenfield City.

To his relief, everything seemed fine for now even after the passage of 10 long years.

In fact, several prominent families in the city were delivering extravagant gifts to the Mason clan, clearly hoping to curry favor.

News of his meteoric rise had traveled fast, and everyone was scrambling to cling to the Mason clan’s newfound power and absolute thick thigh.

"That’s not enough. I need to be sure," Riley murmured to himself. His mind raced as he weighed his options.

Finally, he acted decisively.

Using his Soul Dominion, he subtly influenced the sect master, commanding him to dispatch a sect elder to Greenfield City under the pretense of "protecting potential cultivation resources."

With an elder stationed there, Riley could rest easier knowing his family and clan were under powerful protection.

Satisfied with his plan, Riley leaned back and sighed.

The Mason clan won’t fall while I’m alive.

"Now that problem’s dealt with, it’s time to focus on something more exciting—getting myself a girlfriend!" Riley grinned to himself, his mood instantly lifting.

With a carefree chuckle, he leapt into the air, his robes fluttering as he soared into the sky.

He hummed a cheerful tune, the joy of anticipation fueling his flight.

The sect was vast, and the possibilities were endless—surely, among the countless disciples and cultivators, he’d find someone who caught his eye.

"Let’s see what the sect has to offer," Riley said with a wide smile, his heart light and his spirit soaring as high as the clouds around him.