I smirked, crossing my arms. "Indeed it is—a pleasure palace!"
The words hung in the air like a bomb, and both women froze, their faces a hilarious mix of shock and dawning horror.
Mei Ling's pencil skirt was riding up her thighs again as she shifted, that plump ass of hers straining the fabric like it was about to burst, her perky C-cups heaving with each panicked breath.
Lin Yue wasn't faring much better—her floral skirt flowed over her curves like water, tightening around those firm D's and cascading down her thick hips, but she kept tugging at it awkwardly, like it was itching her in all the wrong places.
"P-Pleasure palace?!" Mei Ling stammered, her rose-glow skin flushing even deeper, hands flying to cover her chest even though the skirt was doing a half-assed job already. "What does that even mean? This place... it's not some kind of... brothel, is it?"
Lin Yue snorted, but her green eyes were wide, darting around the expanding rooms like she expected traps to spring. "Old man—er, Tianlong—you better start explaining before I shove one of those weird toys up your ass. What the hell is all this? And how did you turn into... that?"
She gestured at my new body, her gaze lingering a bit too long on the bulge in my suit pants, like she was trying not to stare but failing miserably.
I chuckled, stepping closer, the palace responding to my thoughts—walls shifting to reveal a plush lounge area with velvet couches that looked perfect for... activities. "Relax, ladies. This ain't just some whorehouse. It's a dimensional space I inherited from that trial. Think of it as my personal fortress—food, wine, beds, and yeah, some tools for fun. But it's more than that. It's power."
They exchanged glances, Mei Ling still naive as ever, biting her lip. "Power? Like... cultivation power?"
"Exactly." I snapped my fingers, and a table materialized in the lounge, laden with steaming dishes—roast spirit boar, glowing fruits that pulsed with qi, bottles of that Lustfire Brew. "Sit. Eat. You both look like you could use it after that shitshow."
Lin Yue hesitated, but her stomach growled loud enough to echo, and she plopped down on a couch, skirt hiking up to show those toned bronze thighs.
Mei Ling followed, more graceful, but her skirt squeezed her curves so tight her ass cheeks peeked out as she sat, making me smirk internally.
System pinged quietly:
[Ogling Reward: Minor Arousal Boost]
[Vitality +5]
[Host Vitality: 125/100 (Overflow Stabilized)]
Fucking system, always on point. I joined them, pouring the brew—rich, spicy aroma filling the air, like liquid fire with a hint of aphrodisiac that I could control now, thanks to the new powers.
Kept it mild, just enough to relax them without turning things wild... yet.
As we ate, I explained bits and pieces—skipping the full horny god legacy for now. "This place is tied to me. It expands, gives me abilities. Watch."
I focused, using the Aphrodisiac Emission power subtly, releasing a faint pheromone cloud.
Nothing overpowering, just a warm buzz to ease the tension.
Mei Ling sipped the brew, her eyes widening as the heat hit her. "This wine... it's making me feel... tingly."
She shifted, skirt rubbing against her bare pussy—I'd hidden the undies on purpose, after all.
Her cheeks went crimson again, thighs pressing together.
Lin Yue downed hers like a champ, but I saw her nipples harden under the silky top, poking through like diamonds. "Tingly's one way to put it. Feels like... damn, old man, you spiking this shit?"
I grinned, leaning back. "Perks of the palace. Helps with recovery. Speaking of..."
I activated Essence Bonding lightly, linking our qi just enough to share vitality.
Energy flowed—my overflow patching their exhaustion, making their skin glow, curves looking even more inviting.
[Essence Bonding Initiated: Mei Ling & Lin Yue]
[Bond Level: A-Rank (Upgraded)]
[Harem Points +30]
[Vitality Shared: +10 to Partners]
Mei Ling gasped, hand flying to her chest. "Tianlong... I feel stronger. What did you do?"
Lin Yue flexed her arm, muscles rippling under that bronze skin. "Yeah, me too. Like I could take on another lurker. Spill it."
"Shared power," I said casually. "We're linked now. You get stronger, I get stronger. Teamwork makes the dream work."
They nodded, but the pheromones were doing their job—eyes glazing a bit, bodies relaxing into the couches.
Mei Ling's legs parted slightly, skirt riding up to flash her slick folds, innocent face turning curious.
Lin Yue crossed hers, but it only accentuated her thick thighs, ass shifting with a jiggle.
Time to push a little. "Wanna see more? This palace has rooms for everything."
I stood, leading them to a training hall that popped up—mats for sparring, but with mirrors everywhere and subtle scents that screamed dual cultivation spot.
Lin Yue punched the air, testing her boosted strength. "Not bad. Could use this to train."
Mei Ling wandered, still naive, poking at a wall that opened to reveal more toys—vibrating orbs, silky restraints.
She picked one up, frowning. "What's this for?"
I smirked, stepping close, my breath on her neck. "That's for fun, Mei. Enhances pleasure. Wanna try?"
She dropped it like it burned, blushing furiously, but didn't back away.
Lin Yue laughed, but her eyes had that hungry spark.
"Okay. Look, we need to talk strategy." I settled into a chair across from them, the palace providing wine and snacks on demand. "We're trapped in Whispering Grove with hostile creatures outside. Xiao and Chen are somewhere in the dimensional scatter, probably facing the same dangers. We need to get stronger, find them, and figure out our next move."
Mei Ling nodded, grateful for the subject change. "My brother... he's just a child. What if something happens to him?"
"Chen's with him," I assured her. "Soul Formation cultivator, remember? Kid's probably safer than we are. But we can't sit here forever."
Lin Yue drained her wine—the mild aphrodisiac making her cheeks flush prettily. "So what's the plan? Train in your fuck palace until we're strong enough to take on the Immortal Sect?"
"Language," Mei Ling scolded, though she was sipping a wine with increasing enthusiasm.
"It's not a bad start," I admitted. "The palace has training facilities, cultivation resources, and..." I paused, watching them both. "Enhancement opportunities."
"Enhancement?" Lin Yue's warrior instincts perked up. "Like what?"
"Dual cultivation techniques," I said casually, watching Mei Ling nearly choke on her drink. "Shared qi refinement, essence bonding, vitality exchange. All perfectly legitimate cultivation methods."
"Dual cultivation is..." Mei Ling's voice was barely a whisper, "intimate cultivation. Between partners. It requires... physical contact..."
"Among other things," I confirmed. "But the power gains are significant. Look at what happened during our escape—every time we connected, we both got stronger."
Lin Yue leaned back, studying me with new interest. "You're serious. You want us to... with you..."
"I want us all to survive," I said firmly. "The Sect won't give up. Wuji will heal and come hunting. We need every advantage."
I stood up, the palace responding by opening a doorway to reveal the training halls beyond. "But first, let's see what you're both capable of."
The training area was impressive—multiple combat rings, cultivation chambers, even a sparring area with adjustable gravity.
Weapons lined the walls, from simple swords to exotic cultivation artifacts.
"Holy shit," Lin Yue breathed, running her hands over a bow that practically hummed with power. "This thing's worth more than my hometown."
Mei Ling gravitated toward the cultivation manuals, her scholarly instincts taking over. "These techniques... some of them are forbidden arts. Tianlong, where did all this come from?"
"Inheritance," I said vaguely. "The important thing is we use it wisely."
I moved to the center of the main sparring ring. "Show me what you can do. Both of you."
Lin Yue grinned, nocking an arrow. "Finally. Been wanting to test myself against the legendary emperor."
She fired—not to kill, but to test my reactions.
I sidestepped easily, the enhanced body making her attack seem sluggish.
She cursed and fired three more in rapid succession, trying to pin me down.
I weaved between them like they were standing still.
"Impossible," she muttered. "You're moving like a Core Formation cultivator."
"Body reconstruction has its perks," I said, then moved.
Not attacking, just closing distance.
She tried to backpedal and draw another arrow, but I was already inside her guard.
My hand touched her wrist gently.
[Combat Contact: Vitality +5]
[Training Bond: Harem Points +3]
Energy flowed between us, and she gasped. "What the hell was that?"
"Essence sharing," I said. "Feel the difference?"
She flexed her bow arm experimentally, eyes widening as she realized her strength had increased. "This is... this is what dual cultivation feels like?"
"Exactly that's just outside contact... if inside it isore potent." I shrugged my shoulder as looking towards the archer lady grinned clearly.
She just scoffed and that scoff told me she was letting her guard down.
Given what happened there and my decision to not at least to them not take advantage was slowly opening her heart for me and that was more important.