Marcus rose from his bed with a calmness he had not felt since arriving in this world. No anxiety. No dread. No craving gnawing at his bones. Just peace. The sheets still clung to his thighs, damp and cool where sweat had dried overnight. The air in the room carried the faint musk of last night's exertions sweat, jasmine from Shen Yao skin, and the sharp metallic tang of fresh qi settling deep in his meridians like liquid silver. He opened the system panel. A glowing notification appeared. The blue light flickered softly across his retinas, cool and electric against his pupils.
CONGRATULATIONS System Mall Access Unlocked Current Kama Points: 56
Requirement Met: First product successfully distributed to masses
Marcus stared. Fifty-six points. Yesterday he had seven.
As he watched the number ticked up.
57
Then again.
58
The points were rising. In real time. As people bought the novel. Each tick felt like a tiny cool coin dropping into an empty purse sharp, metallic, satisfying.
The dark voice stirred. Amused. Low. Oily. Curling around the base of his skull like smoke from burning incense. Thick. Cloying. Finally. You cracked the code. Spread joy. Earn points. Simple.
"The novel. It is selling."
Obviously. Conservative cultivation world. Forbidden romance. Women are eating it up. Literally buying happiness you are providing. Every forbidden line… every scene that makes their thighs clench… every stifled moan in the dark… it feeds you. Delicious, is it not?
Marcus's hands trembled as he opened the System Mall. The interface unfolded in his vision like black silk parting. Rows of shimmering icons appeared. Pulsing faintly with their own inner light. The air around him seemed to hum. Charged with the faint ozone scent of active qi.
WELCOME TO SYSTEM MALL
Starting Gift Available: Mid-Tier Yin Physique Evolution Potion (5x) Regular Price: 500 Kama Points Discounted Price: 50 Kama Points Special Offer: One Time Only
Marcus cursed. The words tasted bitter on his tongue. Like ash. "What am I supposed to do with Yin potions?"
The voice slithered back. Low and amused. Brushing against the base of his dantian like cold oil sliding down his spine. Give them to your women you idiot. Feng Yue. Shen Yao. Rose. Anyone you are dual cultivating with. Improves their physique. Makes them stronger. Better energy sources for you.
The voice paused. A soft, almost tender echo.
The system is smarter than you. Accept the gift.
Marcus and his dark self argued. Verbal sparring. The voice twisted every insult back on him. Echoing his own frustration until it stung like salt in a fresh wound. Marcus lost badly. He gave up.
"Fine. Fuck you."
Love you too.
Marcus scrolled through the mall. Potions. Pills. Techniques. Artifacts. Everything expensive. Thousands of points. Tens of thousands. His eyes caught on a section. Heavenly Kama Scripture.
He tapped it. Dozens of skill books appeared. Cultivation techniques. Dual cultivation methods. Energy manipulation.
Three were available for purchase. The rest locked.
He checked the price on the cheapest.
1,000,000 Kama Points.
Marcus closed it immediately. "Not happening."
He scrolled to another section. Spirit Tech.
Books. Manuals. Tutorials. Twenty tiers of technological advancement. From basic formations to reality-bending arrays.
First Tier: Introduction to Spirit Tech Cost: 1,000 Kama Points
Tempting. But not yet.
He checked the system upgrade requirements.
System Upgrade to Version 2.0 Cost: 50,000 Kama Points
Marcus sighed. A long way to go.
He bought the Yin Evolution Potions. Five vials. Fifty points.
Kama Points: 58 → 8
The loss stung. But necessary.
Marcus closed the system. Bathed. Changed into fresh robes. Went to lunch.
Outside Xuan Ao waited with the flying disc.
"Brother Lin Mo. Where to today?"
"Black Quill Press. I need to check sales numbers."
They flew across the city. Landed in front of the familiar building.
Bruce met them at the entrance. Face beaming. Excited.
"Mr. Lin Mo! The famous writer! Congratulations!"
He practically dragged them inside to his office.
"The sales are incredible. Yesterday we sold a few dozen copies at first. By evening? All five thousand sold out. Gone."
Marcus's heart raced. "Five thousand in one day?"
"Today we produced two hundred thousand copies. Our maximum capacity. And they are selling as fast as we print them. Flying off the shelves."
Bruce leaned forward. Eyes gleaming.
"In five days we will have one million copies ready. One million Mr. Lin. Do you understand what that means?"
One million copies. Hundred thousand Kama Points. Five million lower grade spirit coins in profit for Marcus .
Power. Resources. Freedom.
"There is more." Bruce's tone shifted. Serious. "We have a meeting tonight. With the City Lord's mansion. His elder daughter loved your work. She wants to meet the author. Personally."
"Why?"
"Expansion. She wants to distribute Bound by Desire to other cities across the kingdom. But we need backing. Protection. The City Lord's family can provide that."
Bruce met his eyes.
"Without their support we can not expand beyond Tianluo. Other cities have their own merchant factions. Their own rules. We need political cover."
Marcus nodded. Understood. Business was business. Even in a cultivation world.
"Tonight. After sunset. Be ready. This meeting matters."
Marcus left Black Quill Press. Told Xuan Ao to wait at the rented courtyard.
He went to Feng Yue's house. Knocked.
She opened the door. Smiled when she saw him.
He grabbed her face. Kissed her deeply. She melted into him.
Pulled him inside. Closed the door.
"How are you feeling?" Marcus asked.
"Sore. Tired. But happy." Her eyes were warm. Genuine.
"Good. Because I brought you something."
He pulled out one of the vials. Clear liquid. Faint purple glow.
"Drink this. It will help your physique. Make you stronger. Healthier."
Feng Yue took it. Studied it. "What is it?"
"Yin Evolution Potion. Mid-tier. Trust me."
She opened it. Sniffed. Made a face.
"Smells terrible."
"Probably tastes worse. Drink it anyway."
She did. One swallow. Grimaced.
"Bitter as hell. Are you sure this is not some fraud medicine?"
Then her expression changed.
Heat spread from her stomach. Through her body. Warmth. Comfort. Like being wrapped in silk.
Her fatigue vanished. Soreness gone. The swelling and pain from their activities disappeared completely.
For a moment she felt peaceful. Safe. Like floating in a warm womb.
Then came the pain.
Feng Yue gasped. Bent double. Collapsed on the bed. Curled into a ball.
Groaning. Deep. Guttural. Like something was tearing her apart from inside.
"Fuck!" Marcus lunged forward. "Are you okay? Feng Yue!"
Relax. It is working. The potion is rebuilding her physique. It hurts but it will not kill her.
"You could have warned me!"
Where is the fun in that?
Marcus grabbed her shoulders. Tried to help. "You can do this. Push through it. It will be worth it."
Her groans got louder. Animalistic. Like a pig being slaughtered.
Shit. The neighbors.
Marcus covered her mouth with his hand.
She bit down. Hard. Teeth sank into his palm.
Now his muffled groan joined hers.
From outside it sounded like violent sex. Passionate. Rough.
Women walking past muttered. "Shameless. In broad daylight."
Five hours.
Five hours of groaning. Biting. Pain.
Finally Feng Yue went limp. Unconscious.
Marcus pulled his hand away. Blood dripped. Teeth marks deep.
He checked her pulse. Steady. Strong. Alive.
Relief flooded through him.
Then the smell hit.
Black liquid seeped from her pores. Covered her skin. The stench was indescribable.
Like sewage. Rot. Death. All mixed together.
Marcus retched. Stumbled toward the door. Barely made it outside before vomiting.
Impurities. The potion is purging toxins from her body. Completely normal.
"You are enjoying this."
Immensely.
Marcus wiped his mouth. Breathing through his nose made it worse.
You are late for your meeting. She will be fine. The potion worked perfectly.
Marcus hesitated. Looked back at the closed door.
Then left. Went to the rented courtyard. Found Xuan Ao.
"We are late. Let us go."
Black Quill Press.
Bruce waited outside. Anxious. Pacing.
When he saw them he rushed forward. "Finally! Hurry!"
A small ship descended. Luxurious. Formations glowing. The City Lord's crest on the hull.
An escort ship. Official business.
They boarded. The ship rose. Flew toward the city center.
Thirty minutes later they landed.
Marcus's breath caught.
A villa. Thousands of acres. Beautiful lakes with swans. Gardens that seemed to stretch forever.
The City Lord's mansion.
The main gate was twenty meters tall. Dwarfed the ship. Made Marcus feel like an ant.
Slowly the gates opened.
Guards lined both sides. All of them radiated pressure. Golden Core cultivation. Every single one.
The captain saluted. "Follow me to the guest pavilion."
They walked. Ten minutes through manicured paths. Past fountains. Sculptures. Wealth beyond imagination.
The system panel flashed.
High Level Female Cultivator Detected
Name: Rou Hua
Age: 36
Cultivation: Golden Core Stage 6 (Peak)
Status: Elder Daughter of Tianluo City Lord
Spirit Root: Supreme Grade
Talent: Cultivation (SS-Rank)
Physique: Holy Dragon Physique
Favorability: 0/100
Marcus looked up.
A woman approached. Golden dress. Embroidered with crystals that caught the light. Like a goddess descended.
All the guards bowed immediately. Heads down. Waiting.
Marcus bowed. Did not dare look up.
Silence stretched.
Finally she spoke. "Rise."
Marcus lifted his head slowly.
His eyes traveled up. Could not help it.
Long legs. Perfect proportions. Thin waist. Then… massive chest. Larger than any woman he had ever seen. The size of his head. Each.
His eyes finally reached her face. Veiled. Only her eyes visible.
Bright golden eyes. Glowing faintly. Dragon bloodline showing.
Each breath made her chest rise. Fall. Hypnotic. Seductive.
Like a goddess of desire made flesh.
The dark voice stirred. Quiet. Careful.
This one will not be easy. She is dangerous. Powerful. Out of your league.
For once Marcus agreed completely.