My Xianxia Harem Life

Back at the designated courtyard of the Stone Mountain Sect, Riley made his way to one of the many rooms allocated to his team. The entire compound was nothing short of extravagant.

The courtyard stretched out like a small village, with rows of elegant wooden buildings adorned with intricate carvings of mythical beasts.

The scent of freshly polished wood mingled with the crisp mountain air, creating an atmosphere of peace and quiet that belied the sect’s formidable reputation.

The room Riley chose was spacious, with walls lined in fine lacquered wood and a large window that provided a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountain range.

The bed in the corner was simple yet sturdy, covered with soft silk sheets in muted shades of blue and gold.

As he entered, Riley ensured he was unnoticed. He didn’t bother greeting anyone or making his presence known. For now, solitude was what he needed.

Locking the door behind him with a faint click, he moved to the bed, sat down cross-legged in a lotus position, and exhaled deeply.

With a subtle wave of his hand, a shimmering barrier enveloped the room—his divine sense stretching out to create an impenetrable shield.

Divine senses have numerous applications, including telepathic communication, manipulating objects from a distance, and, when sufficiently powerful, serving as a formidable offensive weapon.

No sound, no movement, and certainly no prying eyes could breach it. The room was now a fortress of privacy, and Riley could finally focus.

"System, show me my character status," he said, his tone calm but commanding.

"Affirmative, host," the system replied, its voice neutral and slightly mechanical.

Ding!

***

Host: Riley Mason

Cultivation Base: 10th Stage Void Tribulation Realm

Rewards Acquired: Soul Dominion (17 uses left), Primordial Chaos Physique, Heavenly Judgment Palm, Eternal Fortress of the Divine Realm, Sovereign Marionette, Sacred Lustful Restoration, Mind Palace Master

Minions: Gideon Hunter, Lucas Prince

***

Riley scanned the list, his sharp eyes lingering on a few entries. Despite having reviewed his status many times before, it still struck him just how far he had come.

Each reward represented a monumental achievement—or a deadly encounter survived by sheer wit and power.

"Hmmm..." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Soul Dominion and Mind Palace Master seem kind of alike. System, can you combine them?"

"Negative, host," the system replied, unflinching in its tone.

"These two divine techniques are already perfect and cannot be further improved. Combination is possible, but the system cannot assist you. You would need to rely on your own efforts to merge them."

Riley frowned slightly, not out of frustration but mild curiosity.

"And how long would that take me? Do you know?"

"Negative, host. Your guess is as good as the system’s," came the terse reply.

Riley chuckled dryly. The system’s blunt honesty was something he had long grown accustomed to. It wasn’t here to coddle or sugarcoat; it was a tool, plain and simple.

He considered the matter for a moment longer, then shrugged it off.

"Forget it," he muttered to himself. He already had more than enough power at his disposal.

Soul Dominion alone was enough to dominate weaker opponents, and Mind Palace Master gave him unparalleled mental clarity and defense. Together, they were overkill.

To push for more would only be an exercise in vanity—and time was something he couldn’t afford to waste.

He glanced out the window for a moment, watching the moonlight bathe the distant peaks in a silvery glow. A fleeting pang of guilt crossed his mind.

For all his strength, Riley didn’t relish the thought of what he was about to do.

"Well," he sighed, rising from the bed and cracking his knuckles.

"Time to kill some more people."

His voice was calm, almost resigned, but there was an edge of determination beneath the surface. He hated killing—it wasn’t something he did lightly—but in this world, survival often demanded it.

The so-called ’bad guys’ were ruthless, and leaving them unchecked would only bring more chaos. If he had to bear the burden, so be it.

"Let’s try something innovative," Riley murmured, a hint of mischief in his tone. He activated his divine sense, allowing his consciousness to expand outward like an invisible tide.

From the complete memories of the female assassin he had encountered earlier, Riley knew the exact location of their base of operations.

Closing his eyes, he let his divine sense sweep across the land, searching for the target.

But what he discovered left him momentarily stunned.

"Wow! I can now cover the entire Nine Cauldrons Continent with my divine sense alone!" Riley exclaimed, his voice filled with amazement.

The sheer scale of his newfound ability was overwhelming. This meant there were no more blind spots—no fog of war to hinder him. He could observe anything, anywhere, at any time.

This was likely a result of his recent upgrade and the acquisition of the Mind Palace Master technique, which had elevated his consciousness to unparalleled heights.

The implications of this power were staggering. With a single thought, he could monitor every corner of the continent.

He could even create an autonomous fragment of his consciousness to watch over specific locations, such as his family back in Green Field City.

The thought of having a "sentinel mind" constantly safeguarding his loved ones filled him with both awe and reassurance.

"This Mind Palace Master technique is really overpowered," Riley muttered, a smile tugging at his lips. He couldn’t help but admire the rewards granted by the system.

Each one was a masterpiece, but this particular technique elevated his abilities to an entirely new realm.

Without wasting another moment, Riley focused on his original goal.

Through his divine sense, he pinpointed the leader of the assassin organization—a frail but dangerous old man hidden deep within a fortified compound. Riley’s eyes narrowed.

"Time to act decisively," he said, his voice carrying an edge of cold determination.

Riley first searched for the strongest, most formidable figure among his targets—the one who exuded the most power and posed the greatest threat.

***

Far away, within the heart of the assassins’ base, an ancient figure sat cross-legged in meditation.

His long white beard and sunken eyes gave him the appearance of someone on the verge of death, but the power and spiritual essence emanating from him was anything but weak.

He suddenly frowned, sensing an unfamiliar presence.