Chapter 165 - Not Enough
The man smiled and shook his head at the praise. "I still have a lot to learn, especially when I have to fight against enemies stronger than myself."
"Fight?" Priestess Leila blinked, she tilted her head. Her large blue eyes stared up at him. "Is there any reason for you to fight? You can live your life here in peace at the temple with Miss Setsuko and the rest of us. You're safe here with us!"
Li Yang couldn't agree with that assessment at all.
And yet the young woman did not know that he had to fight something greater than even their High Priestess.. His current strength was still not enough. While the man had saved himself 5000 Charm Points by no longer needing the Roots Unlockment at the Points Shop--his so-called 'low roots' as dubbed by the System was functioning to his needs as a cultivator.
It didn't mean that he was up to fight gods.
For the past few days, he had continued to purchase the Qi Condensation Stages. It was in order to increase the speed and efficiency he gathered the energy from the world and transformed it into his own, but even while he nearly reached the peak of that… several stages waited for him.
Still very much human—mortal, in his perspective, only surpassing the strength and capabilities of a normal human on earth. Here in this world of Telriah—the people seemed to actually be stronger than those from his world.
Which made sense.
Their world was rich and dense in energy, that even when the women claimed that it was only they who received the blessings of the world—it was actually a bit inaccurate. The System Patch really did transfer him to a place where he could develop his strength.
If by any chance he secured more beast cores and warped again… wouldn't it be better to test his limits again at a more stronger world?
"Ahem," Priestess Mitsuko cleared her throat. She looked at the younger Priestess. "I think you're only saying that because you're still at that rank. Please learn on your own instead of telling Rei that you're visiting me for private lessons. Where are the beast cores she gave you? Have you actually used them or did you fail to absorb them properly?"
Leila's face turned red. Caught once again red-handed in her half-truths. She told Priestess Rei she was visiting Mitsuko to observe and learn from private lessons—except she wasn't the student. "Ahhh… I'm so sorry, I think I may have failed and wasted them." Her gaze momentarily flickered to Li Yang's, the actual recipient of the beast cores.
It was their dirty little secret.
She actually thought it was worth it… once she visited him again.
The CEO only kept his natural expression and looked her in the eye. He didn't say a word, but it was enough to make her even redder. Unaware, or at least ignorant of how the Priestess' mind slipped into a naughtier time. Leila looked away abashed and continued with her apologies to the higher-ranked Priestess.
"I'll study real hard, I promise!"
"Then get out of here," Mitsuko eyed Leila.
Li Yang watched the younger Priestess run away—unbeknownst that she was internally swearing to visit him at nightfall for another lesson.
Priestess Leila did not know he was using Ao, or rather was too inattentive or still unlearned enough to recognize or trace the Ao in the air which belonged to him. In the young woman's mind—he was a Swords Master, or an amazing Sword Combatant
That was another lesson he had learned from the time he had been here.
Mitsuko sighed and allowed her Ao to flow out more steadily, creating a larger aura around her that tinged in pink. "I've chased her out, you can now use your Ao more liberally."
He didn't know her element, or rather, nature of the Ao—but it held a certain regalness that impressed him. Both controlled and yet ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.
Li Yang glanced one last time at the empty porch and enshrouded himself in qi.
Ao from an individual was recognizable. If one could read it properly—then one was capable of learning the minutiae of their opponent. When an opponent's Ao shrouded their entire body and flared wildly, he learned it was most often someone who had a warm or hot Ao.
That was where Mitsuko was placed.
People whose energy were difficult to contain and were often used to attack and lash out. She had used it several times already for him to understand that she at least categorized more to this aspect. Those in the opposite spectrum of Ao nature, functioned differently.
"Wear your blindfold again," she told him evenly.
He raised a brow—but then did it wordlessly. The energy all around him dispersed all around him as a cloak. Fortunately, his energy was already difficult to read for those who weren't as talented, or just observant as Mitsuko—his own spiritual roots prevented him from getting any specific nature, but it also meant his energy was rather at its base form.
A strong wave of Ao hurtled into his direction like a large wave. It overpowered and consumed the cloak of Ao he had made—and then he cut it down with his sword—sharp and steady.
The energy dispersed at his sides.
But then she attacked him again—several more blasts of concentrated Ao akin to several blows of fist.
By sheer amount of Ao, he didn't even need his own Ao to know where it was and dodge it. Instead he avoided it and tried to go around her—entering into the forest. He narrowly avoided the trees behind him. The plants Ao was almost invisible at this rate, paling to the Priestess that threw hers around like fire.
Mitsuko chased after him.
—-—-
Author's Note: I'll keep you as my dirty little secret—er, ahem. Welcome back to the chapter haha. End rather. Sorry, my desire to sing is slipping lol. And so is the worldbuilding frenzy inside of me. This is the 'Cultivation' aspect of the My CEO's Harem Cultivation System. I probably need to include smut soon, heh. But hey, I think I've planned this Arc, anime style!
Beginning Arc: Chapter 2 - 139.
Telriah Arc: Currently … 190? (Do I shorten or lengthen?)
Chapter 1 is from another arc. So yes, it's a bit spoilerish, to answer questions about him going home. Well, it's pretty obvious lol. Thanks for reading!