Marcus and Sarah walked back to his inn in tense silence. The afternoon sun slanted long shadows across the stone streets of Flame Phoenix City. Every step felt heavier. Sarah's presence beside him crackled like static. Her faint jasmine scent mixed with expensive incense drifted toward him. The soft rustle of her robes brushed his arm now and then. He kept the dragon mask on. It hid how his pulse hammered in his throat.
The inn door creaked when they entered. The narrow hallway smelled of old wood and yesterday's cooking oil. Marcus led her up the stairs. Each step groaned underfoot. His room waited at the end of the corridor. Small. Dim. Cheap. He pushed the door open. Gestured inside.
"Sorry for the mess. It is not much."
Sarah stepped past him. Her eyes swept the space. Single bed. Rickety table. One chair. Bare walls. She gave a small polite smile that did not quite reach her eyes.
"It is fine. I have seen worse."
The door clicked shut behind them. The room shrank instantly. Air thickened. Marcus felt the shift the moment the latch fell. The quiet became too loud. He opened the system panel with a thought. Fingers ghosted over the interface in his vision.
There it was. The hidden skill. Unlocked at 100 percent Supreme Yang Physique evolution. Buried in the passive tab like a loaded blade.
Pheromone Release
Special passive hybrid skill. Releases invisible yang charged pheromones.
Induces strong arousal in opposite gender.
Consumption: 2 Kama Points every 5 minutes active emission
Range: 5 meters spherical radius fixed
Effect Strength Scaling:
Host Yang Potency current multiplier 1.0x increases with further evolutions
Target Gender Resistance female cultivators 100 percent vulnerable.
Target Cultivation Level higher realms reduce effectiveness about 10 percent per major realm gap
Environmental Factors strong wind heavy incense qi suppression arrays reduce range efficacy 20 to 60 percent
Core Effects Opposite Gender:
0 to 30 seconds mild warmth in lower dantian increased heart rate subtle arousal 30 seconds to 2 minutes moderate heat flush shallow breathing thigh clenching pronounced wetness.
2 to 5 minutes heavy arousal loss of focus flushed skin rapid breathing strong urge to touch self others reduced inhibitions willpower check failure rate 60 to 80 percent
Prolonged over 5 minutes near compulsive need for release qi circulation disrupted potential spontaneous climax
Countermeasures high level female cultivators Golden Core and above can purge with qi circulation 10 to 30 seconds. Strong willed targets resist behavioral effects.
He toggled it on. Set to 5 minutes. The skill hummed to life. Invisible waves of sweet potent yang scent began drifting from his skin. Warm honey. Sun heated cedar. Raw masculine musk. Subtle. Lethal. Consumption ticker started in his system panel . 2 Kama Points deducted. 4 minutes 55 seconds remaining.
Sarah felt it instantly. Her posture shifted. She leaned forward slightly. Took a deeper breath without realizing. Eyelids fluttered. A flush crept up her neck. Heart rate climbed. A faint warmth bloomed low in her belly.
Marcus moved to the bedside. Pretended to rummage in his storage pouch. Then pulled out the mid tier Yin Physique Evolution Potion. Clear glass. Faint purple glow. He turned. Held it out with a calm smile.
"Here. Take a look."
Sarah sat on the chair. Legs crossed tightly. Accepted the vial. Her fingers brushed his. A tiny jolt ran through her. She started circulating qi to inspect it. But her face flushed deeper. Ripe apple red. Breathing quickened. Thighs pressed together. The warmth spread. Nipples tightened against silk. Slickness grew between her legs.
Marcus watched. Smiled wider. Next move forming.
The dark voice snapped inside his head. Do not you dare you horny dog.
Sarah circulated deeper. Qi surged through her blood. In a flash the flush vanished. She looked normal again. Calm. Professional. But her eyes lingered on him a second too long. Favorability ticked in his system panel . Plus 0.3 percent.
She handed the vial back. Voice steady. "I would like to buy it directly from you. Or you can auction it at our house. We take a cut."
Marcus thought for a moment. Funds were low. Auction meant more profit. Delayed cash. But he needed money now.
"When is the next auction?"
"Tonight. Grand one. I can get you a slot."
Marcus nodded. "Tonight it is then."
Sarah stood. "We need to hurry."
As she rose Marcus caught it. A brief wet spot on the chair where she sat. Dark. Obvious. Next instant her qi flashed. Evaporated it. Gone. Nothing there.
Sarah was nervous. Lower lips soaked. Never happened before with any man. She was confident in her control. Used qi to erase proof. But she forgot one thing. Marcus was Foundation Establishment. Senses heightened. Even a glance was enough. He saw. Understood. Kept silent. Let her save face. Inside he grinned. Yang physique skill worked better than expected.
For a moment he almost believed it was useless.
He followed her toward the Smith Auction House in the western district. Half an hour walk. A masked man with dragon coiling pattern and a stunning beauty drew eyes from every passerby. Whispers trailed them.
Marcus saw the building from a distance. Huge. Colosseum shaped. Stone walls carved with phoenixes and smith hammers. Qi pulsed from it like a heartbeat.
They entered the main gate. Every guard bowed instantly when they saw Sarah. My lady.
Receptionist approached. A turtle woman. Same race as Xuan Ao. Shell polished. Eyes calm. Bowed deeply.
Sarah spoke. "Is everything ready for tonight's grand auction?"
Turtle woman nodded. "Everything is up to standard as my lady instructed."
Marcus and Sarah went inside the auction treasury hall. Marcus registered as a seller. Deposited the potion. Filled forms. Gave fake name. Lin Mo. Alchemist. Temporary token.
Sarah told him. "Wait in the guest room. Auction starts in an hour."
She went upstairs to prepare.
Marcus sat in the guest room. Opened the system panel. Activated Pheromone Release again. Full duration. Let it run during the auction. Consumption. 2 KP deducted. 4 minutes 55 seconds remaining.
An hour later a guard escorted him to a private box. High view. Overlooking the entire auction floor. Sarah was already there. Dressed in elegant crimson robes. Hair pinned with jade. Drinking tea. She waved him over.
"Join me."
Marcus sat opposite. Mask still on. The scent of his pheromones drifted across the table. Sarah's cheeks flushed again. She circulated qi discreetly. Normalized. But her eyes kept flicking to him. Favorability. Plus 0.4 percent.
Auction began.
Items rolled out. Rare ores. Talismans. Pills. Weapons. Marcus watched carefully. One item caught his eye. Mid tier Array Carving Knife. Perfect for Spirit Tech work. Precise. Qi conductive edge.
Sarah noticed his reaction. Smiled. "I can help with that if you want it."
Marcus nodded.
She took out her jade slip. Sent a message.
Bidding started. 3000 mid grade spirit coins. Climbed fast. 3300. 3400. Then a bid jumped to 5500. Silence fell.
Auctioneer counted. "Going once… twice…"
Another bid. 6000. Crowd buzzed. Then 7300. Final nail. No one countered.
Sarah smiled. "Congratulations Mr Lin Mo. You got what you needed."
Finally the main item arrived. The vial of Yin Physique Evolution Potion. Displayed on a floating pedestal. When the auctioneer explained it improved female cultivator physique the hall erupted.
Curses. Gasps. Excitement. Males bid furiously. Females glared. Old men joined in with greedy eyes. Bidding skyrocketed.
Marcus watched stunned. The dark voice laughed. Look at you horny dog. Your brain always thinks with the thing between your legs.
Marcus ignored it. Focused.
Final bid. 73000 mid grade spirit coins. Mouths gaped. Even Sarah blinked.
She leaned close. "We made a huge profit today."
Auction ended. Marcus followed Sarah to the treasury hall. Collected his earnings. Array carving knife. 55000 mid grade spirit coins after cut.
He was happy. Wealth. Tools. Power.
He was about to leave for his room when Sarah spoke.
"Why not stay for dinner? It is late. Everything is closed."
Marcus paused. Confused. Cultivators could fast for days. But her tone was soft. Inviting.
The dark voice hissed. Do not you dare say no fucker. Be a gentleman or I will torture you all night.
Marcus nodded. "Thank you. I accept."
She led him upstairs. Hips swaying gently in front of him. Marcus swallowed. Took a deep breath.
Inside her private room a table was set. Spirit beast meats. Rare delicacies. Every dish radiated qi. The smell made his mouth water.
They ate. Energy rushed into his dantian with every bite. Warm. Pure. Powerful.
Dinner finished. Marcus stood to say goodbye.
Sarah spoke again. "Why not stay tonight? Plenty of rooms. It is not safe to go alone this late."
The dark voice purred. You better say yes.
Marcus nodded. "Thank you. I will."
She gave him a room beside hers.
Marcus walked in. Lay on the bed. Opened the system. Stopped Pheromone Release. Scrolled the mall.
Meanwhile in her room Sarah blushed. What was wrong with her? First dinner. Then inviting him to stay. She never felt like this before.
She removed her robe. Looked down. Thighs slick with honey juice. Underwear soaked.
She slid a finger inside. Started moving. Why am I so horny today?
But the more she rubbed the more the urge grew. Half an hour passed. No climax. She was helpless. Desperate.
In Marcus's room he drifted toward sleep.
Then the dark voice rang sharp.
Wake up you pig head. Best time to make a move. Go to her room. See for yourself.
Marcus cursed. What to see man?
Silence.
No response. He cursed again.
Then he got up. Opened his door slowly. Used Shadow Step. Appeared silently in front of her door. Placed his ear against it.
Deep breathing. Mild squishing sounds. Wet. Rhythmic. Familiar.
Marcus gritted his teeth. She is masturbating.
He tried the handle. Locked. Cursed. Not enough Kama for Shadow Step upgrade.
The voice came again. You stupid dog. What are you fussing about? Use qi to open the lock.
Marcus circulated qi. Covered the mechanism. Click.
Door swung open.
Sarah was on the bed. Fingers buried deep. Body arched. Moaning softly. She froze when she saw him. Flushed crimson. Tried to cover herself.
Marcus stepped inside. Door closed behind him with a soft thud.
Sarah's eyes widened. Breath caught. The room smelled thickly of her arousal. Sweet. Tangy. Overpowering. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Fingers still slick between her thighs. She stared at him. Part shock. Part something darker. Hungrier.
Marcus stood there. Eyes locked on hers.
The air between them crackled.
Sarah's voice came out small. Trembling. "Lin Mo… what are you doing here?"
Marcus took one slow step forward. "I heard you."
Her flush deepened. She pulled the sheet higher. But her legs stayed parted slightly. The scent thickened. His pheromones still lingered in the air. Faint. Insidious.
Sarah swallowed. "You should leave."
Marcus did not move. "You invited me to stay."
Her breathing hitched. Fingers twitched against the sheet. "That was… different."
Another step. Closer. "Was it?"
Silence stretched. Heavy. Electric. Her eyes flicked to the door. Then back to him. Then down. To the obvious bulge in his robes.
Sarah's voice cracked. "Close the door."
Marcus reached back. Pushed it shut. The latch clicked. Locked.