The banquet hall was a graveyard of shattered pride.Tables overturned. Robes scorched. Elders clutching broken arms. Young masters who once strutted like peacocks now knelt with foreheads pressed to cracked marble, trembling.Ethan Black stood at the center like a dark sun.His new Divine Demon Sovereign Body thrummed with power. Black veins of demonic qi traced faintly under his skin before fading back to normal. The golden chain linking him to Aria Voss shimmered faintly—visible only to him and her. She still knelt where he left her, silver hair disheveled, white gown stained with wine and tears. Every few seconds her body shivered as the forced affinity bond pulsed through her.[Affinity: Obsessed (Locked at +999)]
[Status: Bound Slave (Tier 1 – Loyalty Enforcement Active)]
[Bonus Effect: Pain/Pleasure feedback loop – She feels what you feel, amplified]Ethan glanced down at her."Stand," he said softly.Aria rose on unsteady legs. Her ice-blue eyes were glassy, pupils dilated. She stepped closer without being told—almost magnetically."Ethan… I…" Her voice cracked. "I didn't mean—"He placed a finger on her lips."Shh. Save the apologies. You'll have plenty of time to prove them later."DING![New Passive Unlocked: Harem Aura (Lv.1)]
[All females within 50 meters gain +100 Affinity over time. Stacks with direct contact.]
[Current Bonus: Aria Voss – Permanent +200 Loyalty]He smirked. Efficient.Caleb Reed still knelt a few paces away, face purple with rage and humiliation. Blood trickled from his bitten lip.Ethan walked over."Scan."[Caleb Reed]
[Cultivation: Suppressed to Qi Condensation 5th Layer (by Ethan's aura)]
[Hidden: Demon Sect Blood Oath Mark – Active]
[Current Emotion: 81% Hatred, 12% Terror, 7% Regret]
[Weakness: Blood Oath vulnerability – Can be detonated remotely if contract broken]Ethan crouched."You sold your soul to the Demon Sect for a promotion, didn't you? Pathetic. Even your betrayal was second-rate."Caleb snarled. "You think this power will last? The Heavenly Sword Sect will—"Ethan flicked his finger.A thin black thread of demonic flame shot out, wrapping around Caleb's throat like a noose."Quiet."The thread tightened just enough to make Caleb's eyes bulge."I could end you now," Ethan said conversationally. "But that would be too merciful. No. You'll live. You'll watch everything you stole turn to ash. And when I'm done… maybe I'll let Aria decide what to do with you."Aria flinched at her name.Ethan released the thread. Caleb collapsed, gasping.DING![Revenge Multiplier: +3,500 Points – Public subjugation of secondary betrayer]
[Total Revenge Points: 55,500]Enough to spend.Ethan opened the system shop mentally.[Revenge Shop (Lv.1)]
• Instant Skill: Shadow Step (A-Rank) – 10,000 pts
• Artifact: Void Storage Ring (S-Rank) – 20,000 pts
• Cultivation Boost Pill (x10) – 5,000 pts
• Harem Slot Expansion (Unlock 2 more) – 30,000 pts
• Special: Heavenly Vault Key Fragment (Limited) – 40,000 ptsHis eyes narrowed on the last one.The Forbidden Heavenly Vault.An ancient ruin floating above the Black Wind Mountain Range. Sealed for a thousand years. Rumored to contain Immortal-grade artifacts, divine beast cores, and the legendary Nine Heavens Ascension Scripture.In his first life, the vault had opened three months from now. The "genius" young masters—including the Third Young Master of Heavenly Sword Sect—had claimed everything. Ethan had watched from the sidelines, useless.Not this time.He selected it.DING![Purchase Confirmed: Heavenly Vault Key Fragment]
[Revenge Points: -40,000 → 15,500 remaining]
[Item Received: Fragment #1/9 – Allows temporary entry to the outer vault tonight only]Perfect.Ethan stood.The hall watched him in terrified silence.He addressed them casually."The Voss Clan and Reed Clan will compensate the Black Clan for tonight's… incident. Triple the engagement dowry. Plus all stolen techniques returned. Refuse, and I'll come collect personally."No one dared argue.He turned to leave.Aria hurried after him, clutching his sleeve like a frightened wife."Ethan—where are you going?"He glanced back."To take what's mine."Outside the banquet palace, night had fallen.Black Wind Mountain loomed in the distance, wreathed in perpetual storm clouds. Lightning cracked silently across the sky.Ethan stepped into the air.No flying sword. No qi wings.Just raw power.He shot upward like a black comet, wind howling around him.Aria clung to his back—system-forced proximity made separation painful for her now. She buried her face in his shoulder, trembling.They crossed a hundred li in minutes.The Heavenly Vault appeared: a colossal floating jade palace, half-shrouded in mist and golden restrictions. Nine massive pillars held it aloft. Arrays pulsed with ancient power.At the entrance gate, a faint ripple shimmered—the barrier.Ethan raised the key fragment.It glowed crimson.Crack—A tear opened in the barrier. Just wide enough for one person.He stepped through.Inside: endless corridors of white jade. Floating spirit lanterns. The air thick with primordial qi so dense it felt like breathing liquid gold.DING![Entered Forbidden Heavenly Vault – Outer Layer]
[Quest Updated: Conquer the Forbidden Heavenly Vault]
[Sub-Objective: Obtain at least one Immortal-grade treasure]
[Time Limit: Before dawn]
[Bonus Reward: Random SSS-Rank Bloodline Awakening]Ethan grinned."Let's shop."He moved like a shadow.First hall: piles of spirit stones the size of houses. He waved a hand—Void Storage Ring activated automatically.Mountains vanished into his inventory.Second hall: weapon racks. Swords, spears, cauldrons. He scanned.[Immortal-grade: None detected]
[Best: Peak Sovereign-grade Thunder Dragon Spear – 8,000 years old]He took it anyway. Might as well.Third hall—Voices."…the barrier opened early? Impossible.""Someone must have a key fragment. Kill them and take it."Ethan rounded the corner.Five cultivators in Heavenly Sword Sect robes. All late Nascent Soul to early Void Tribulation. The leader—a handsome youth with a sword scar across his cheek—smirked.Third Young Master, Huo Jian.In his first life, this bastard had taken the vault's core treasure and Aria as a concubine.Now Huo Jian's eyes widened."You… the Black Clan trash? How—"Ethan didn't answer.He simply appeared in front of Huo Jian.Crack.A casual backhand.Huo Jian's head exploded like a watermelon.Blood painted the jade floor.The other four screamed.Ethan moved.Shadow Step.He flickered between them like smoke.Throats slit. Hearts pierced. Heads crushed.In seven breaths, five corpses hit the ground.DING![Revenge Multiplier: +12,000 Points – Eliminated future threats]
[Total: 27,500]He looted their rings without looking.Then he noticed her.In the corner, chained to a jade pillar by glowing restriction chains, was a woman.Long black hair. Crimson eyes. Skin pale as moonlight. Wearing tattered black-and-red robes that barely concealed curves that could start wars.A succubus tail twitched weakly behind her.[Scan][Lilith Asmodea]
[Race: Pureblood Demon Empress (Sealed)]
[Cultivation: Peak Immortal Ascension (Suppressed to Core Formation by chains)]
[Status: Captive – Heavenly Sword Sect experiment subject]
[Affinity: +180 (Curiosity / Intrigue)]
[Harem Opportunity: Extremely High – Bloodline resonance detected with Host's Divine Demon Sovereign Body]She looked up.Eyes met.A slow, dangerous smile curved her blood-red lips."Well… aren't you interesting. A human with demon sovereign aura… and you're here to plunder?"Ethan walked closer.The chains rattled as she leaned forward."I can smell revenge on you," she purred. "Delicious."He stopped inches away."Want out?"Her tail flicked."Free me… and I'll give you everything. Power. Pleasure. Loyalty. My entire clan if you want it."DING![Harem Conquest Opportunity Detected]
[Target: Lilith Asmodea – Affinity +450 (Willing Submission Potential)]
[Action Required: Break Seal Chains]
[Cost: 20,000 Revenge Points or direct qi infusion]Ethan glanced at his points.27,500.Enough.He placed a hand on the central chain.Black demonic qi surged.Crack—CRACK—The restrictions shattered like glass.Lilith gasped, power flooding back.She rose gracefully.Then dropped to one knee before him—unprompted."Master," she whispered, voice husky. "Command me."DING![First True Harem Member Acquired: Lilith Asmodea]
[Harem Slot 2/∞ Filled]
[Bonus: Demon Empress Bloodline Resonance – Your cultivation speed +500% when dual-cultivating]
[New Title Unlocked: Demon Sovereign Consort Collector]Ethan looked down at the kneeling succubus empress.Then at Aria, who had followed silently and now watched with wide eyes—jealousy and heat warring on her face.He smirked."Day one isn't over yet."Ahead, the inner vault door glowed.The real treasures waited.And so did the real fun.