Chapter 8: The System's Harem Plan
After Yan Tong was carried off the stage, Nian Yun leisurely made his way toward the stands. When he reached a spot where the view was blocked, he finally couldn’t hold back and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
“Next time, it’s safer to use two spirit souls; this is a bit over the top,” a voice remarked.
[Task exceeded completion: Additional favorability +2]
[Helena’s favorability toward the host: 17]
After a brief moment of relief, the deathly pallor on Nian Yun’s face softened slightly, and he continued walking toward the stands.
“It seems you’re even stronger than I expected,” Xie Yue said with a look of genuine admiration.
“Are you alright?” Helena asked, her expression more curious than pleased as she looked at Nian Yun.
“Isn’t the one in trouble that person?” Nian Yun smiled and turned to point at Yan Tong, who was receiving treatment nearby.
“Tap, tap, tap.”
“Xie Yue, Helena, we’re almost done over here.”
“Alright, we’re coming right away.”
After the newcomers departed,
“Well, we didn’t come here for nothing. See you,” one said.
“See you.”
Helena nodded lightly at Nian Yun before turning away.
Xie Yue was about to leave but paused, then turned back.
“You should have met Yan already, right?”
“Yeah.”
“If you’re interested in Nana, you’ll have to keep an eye on him.”
“Of course. He’s not easy to deal with.”
“Tap—”
After the two walked away,
“Yan Tong’s third spirit skill isn’t so easy to counter,” Morris approached from behind.
“Pfft.”
Nian Yun coughed up fresh blood, and Morris hurriedly helped steady him.
“The shock made my muscles ache.”
“Didn’t expect you to be so concerned about face.”
“You hadn’t noticed before?”
Morris just smiled without replying further. “Rest well. I guess your performance isn’t over yet.”
The two exchanged a knowing smile.
No major spirit battles erupted during the following matches.
...
“The assessment is over. Everyone, gather up.”
The voice was not loud, but all heard it.
“Tap, tap, tap.”
Everyone was present except Yan Tong.
“Next, the six lowest scorers will be excused from coming tomorrow. He Xi, Yan Tong, ...” Luster coldly scanned the crowd before continuing, “The highest scorer this time will be allowed to select any spirit beast from the Spirit Hall.”
The announcement of this hidden rule sparked a sudden uproar among the group.
“Why wasn’t this mentioned earlier? Otherwise, I would’ve fought harder—not slacked off, I mean fought hard!”
“Don’t bother—based on your strength, you barely managed in the first round with those two.”
Nian Yun was somewhat puzzled. “It’s just one spirit beast. Why’s everyone so worked up?”
“That’s how it is at the Spirit Academy,” Morris leaned in to explain. “Only the exceptional—or the lucky—get this chance. Be it here or at the junior spirit master academy, you have to form teams and hunt spirit beasts on your own.”
“So this is part of the Spirit Hall Academy’s teaching method? Quite remarkable.”
As they spoke, Luster finished his announcement.
“The winner of this spirit contest is: Zhang Ping.”
“Zhang Ping? She looks decent, but that temper...”
“Indeed.”
Two people in the back shivered after speaking and glanced up involuntarily, sensing a cold glare from the front.
Upon seeing who it was, they quickly retreated mentally.
Nian Yun’s senses quickly locked onto the figure not far ahead in the front row: long black hair flowing in the breeze, fair skin, and a tall, well-proportioned figure that made Nian Yun glance twice.
“I didn’t notice before. Didn’t expect her to be in our class,” Morris said, frowning.
Snapping out of the trance caused by the figure, Nian Yun grew curious about Morris’s words.
System: “Congratulations, host. Side quest unlocked: Befriend Zhang Ping.”
“You’re not going to assign me a harem quest for every pretty girl I meet, right?” Nian Yun sighed. “One girlfriend is enough.”
System: “Zhang Ping is a Golden Era sensitive attack-type spirit master from the Spirit Hall. Spirit: Golden Waist Flying Swallow.”
“Who asked you? But since you have that feature, I want all of Morris’s data.”
System: “Host, aren’t you not interested in men?”
“Fine, shut up.”
Back from the consciousness world, Nian Yun’s gaze involuntarily drifted again, feeling a sense of unease, though his eyes had already moved.
As expected, his half-closed eyes met those watching him.
He quickly averted his gaze, his body heating and trembling involuntarily.
“That’s enough for today.”
Luster said coldly and turned away without waiting for questions or reactions. A flock of black crows flew in and enveloped him.
“Whoosh—”
The flock scattered, and Luster’s figure vanished from everyone’s sight.
“Left without a word? What a strange person,” Nian Yun muttered amid the crowd’s confusion.
---
“Get used to it. Today’s over too. Want to grab dinner together?” Morris, who was used to these things, spoke with a hint of fatigue.
“Sure, and you can tell me about other weird stuff,” Nian Yun gladly accepted the chance to learn more about Morris.
Outside the spirit arena,
As they stepped out, three figures appeared ahead. The two who had been whispering behind were now pleading with Zhang Ping.
Zhang Ping noticed the approaching pair and naturally met their gaze.
“The look isn’t right. Let’s meet some other day,” Nian Yun thought, calculating carefully.
They didn’t join the commotion, just glanced and then quickened their pace.
They soon reached the farthest cafeteria.
“That look felt like she wanted to devour me,” Nian Yun glanced back, relieved to see no one following.
“Zhang Ping is a top-tier figure even in the junior academy. Her personality and appearance leave a deep impression, making her quite famous,” Morris explained and kept glancing back nervously.
“Nian Yun!”
With a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, Nian Yun turned.
“Yan, what’s up?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not interested in your current state. Fight me when you’re ready.”
Yan smiled lightly and passed by the two.
Passersby slowed and chuckled quietly at the scene.
“Nian Yun.”
“No problem. Let’s go,” Morris said quietly, leading Nian Yun into the cafeteria.
“System! Quickly give me a mission to boost my spirit power. This is infuriating!”
System: “...”
System: “Except for the main quests, side quests only appear after the host explores.”
Nian Yun grumbled, dragging his ‘Dream One Heart’ slowly toward the system.
“Buzz, buzz—buzz, buzz.”
System: “But I can show the general locations where new quests spawn!”
“Then hurry up!”
“Whoosh.”
The screen flickered, and soon a map appeared.
After careful observation, quest spawn rates flickered repeatedly across the map. Just as Nian Yun was about to complain, a location with a 100% guaranteed quest appeared before his eyes.
“Spirit Hall?”