My Xianxia Harem Life

"Riley, I'm back!"

"Greetings, Senior Riley!"

"Hello, Senior."

An hour later, Ava returned with a steaming pot of food.

How she managed to convince Elder William to allow it was a mystery, but perhaps the elder now gave Riley considerable leeway due to his new cultivation base.

Ava wasn't alone; she was accompanied by two other stunning women, friends of hers, who were clearly trying to curry favor with Riley through their connection with her. Riley, however, didn't mind.

"Thank you for your care, everyone. There's enough food for all—please, eat with me," Riley said as he began eating. Ava and her friends joined in, sharing the meal.

The second floor of the Scripture Pavilion, lined with cultivation manuals for inner and core disciples, also featured numerous tables for study.

However, the enticing aroma of hot food made concentration difficult for everyone present. Still, none dared to complain; no one wanted to risk offending a Golden Core expert.

"Thank you for the food and care, Ava. It was wonderful," Riley said with a warm smile.

"It was nothing, Riley. I'm happy to do it for you," Ava replied, her face glowing with happiness.

Her friends cleaned up the table and left, but Ava stayed behind, chatting and entertaining Riley.

He didn't mind; a Spirit Severing Realm cultivator like him could live over 5,000 years, so spending a day with a beauty intent on keeping him company hardly felt like a waste.

When the sky had turned dark, Riley finally stood to leave.

"Thank you for your time, Ava. I'll see you later."

"Riley… I…" Ava hesitated, her inner conflict evident. Then, with a sudden burst of courage, she tiptoed to press a quick kiss to his lips.

Her face turned scarlet as she pulled away and bolted, calling out behind her, "Bye, Riley!"

Riley watched her retreating figure, a faint smile on his face. If she wanted to lure him in, she'd have to do better than that.

Riley stood up, ready to leave, when his gaze fell upon a stack of cultivation manuals neatly arranged to the side.

Something about them piqued his curiosity, and he stepped closer, letting his fingers trace over the spines of the books. Without much thought, he picked up three at random, as if on instinct.

The titles glimmered faintly in the lantern light: Silent Moon Sword Art, Flowing River Palm, and Phantom Step Technique.

As he held them, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.

Ding!

"Congratulations, host! You have successfully acquired your training manuals. Please select one of the three available rewards," the system's voice intoned, steady and emotionless.

Riley's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"I think I've finally cracked the code to hacking this system," Riley thought, a triumphant smile forming on his lips. He glanced at the reward screen again—unchanged, as expected.

The system's offerings were always accompanied by their trademark long-winded descriptions, detailing every nuance in excessive detail.

However, Riley had learned the hard way that claiming these rewards often came with unexpected physical changes—changes that could easily draw attention if made in public.

He casually returned the manuals to their place on the shelves and decided to defer his choice for now. Better to wait until he was in a more private and secure setting.

"Hmmm… I suppose it's time to visit the Treasury Pavilion," he muttered under his breath, the thought of Luna's recent assistance still lingering in his mind.

"I owe her something for her efforts."

The paths leading to the Treasury Pavilion were illuminated by countless lanterns, their soft glow casting dancing shadows on the stone walkways.

Despite the late hour, disciples bustled about, their hurried movements indicative of the constant activity within the sect.

As Riley made his way through the sect grounds, his presence did not go unnoticed. Disciples who crossed his path stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening as they recognized him.

Murmurs rippled through the air, but none dared to speak openly. Instead, they bowed deeply, their respect evident in their rigid postures.

"That's Riley Mason…" one whispered, awe lacing their voice.

"The trash disciple before who d…" another murmured.

"Shhhhhhhh… Do you want to get us killed!"

Riley paid them no mind. His expression remained composed, his steps measured. Such reverence, though new, was not unexpected.

News of his achievements had clearly spread like wildfire, and in a sect as tightly knit as the Stone Mountain Sect, secrecy was a fleeting concept.

After a leisurely ten-minute walk, Riley arrived at the grand entrance of the Treasury Pavilion.

The building loomed before him, its ancient stone walls adorned with intricate carvings depicting the sect's long and storied history.

At the entrance stood Elder Thomas, the pavilion's custodian, his robes immaculate and his expression calm yet watchful.

"Greetings, Elder Thomas. Thank you for granting me an audience," Riley said, offering a polite bow.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist. It is but a small matter. Please, state your business in my pavilion," Elder Thomas replied, his voice steady and formal.

Despite appearing middle-aged, his youthful demeanor belied the centuries of wisdom he carried.

At around 250 years old, Elder Thomas was among the youngest of the sect's elders, with another 250 years of life likely ahead of him, thanks to his Golden Core cultivation.

"I'd like to inquire about the spirit stones currently in stock. I require some for personal use," Riley stated plainly.

Elder Thomas raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral but firm.

"I'm afraid that is impossible. Spirit stones cannot simply be taken on a whim. To acquire them, you must exchange contribution points. Alternatively, if you become an elder, you would receive a monthly allowance of 10,000 spirit stones. Please understand, fellow Daoist, that I cannot fulfill such a request tonight."

Riley remained unfazed.

"I see. But it doesn't hurt to ask, does it?" he said, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

With a deliberate motion, he retrieved a token from his robes and held it aloft. The token gleamed faintly in the dim light, its intricate engravings unmistakable.

Thud!

Elder Thomas's expression shifted instantly. He cupped his fists and bowed deeply, his demeanor now markedly deferential.

"What do you require, young master? Say the word, and I shall fulfill your request to the best of my ability," Elder Thomas said, his voice filled with respect.

"I've already stated my request," Riley replied.

"Ah… yes, of course. The treasury currently holds over 100 million spirit stones," Elder Thomas confirmed, his tone unwavering as he maintained his respectful posture.

"Perfect. I'll take 1 million spirit stones," Riley said, his voice calm but firm.

"As you wish, young master."

Ten minutes later, Riley emerged from the Treasury Pavilion, a storage ring now containing 1 million spirit stones securely on his finger.

With these resources, he could fund and pay the people around him. A simple thank you doesn't carry the weight of gold, after all.

As he made his way back to the Thousand Stars Summit, he couldn't help but glance at the system's notifications.

The rewards from the manuals he had picked earlier were still waiting for him, their allure growing stronger with each passing moment.

"Tonight," Riley thought to himself, a flicker of excitement dancing in his eyes.

"I'll decide which I want tonight."

The moon hung high above as Riley ascended the summit, his thoughts already racing with possibilities. The path ahead was illuminated not just by lanterns, but by the boundless potential that lay before him.