Chapter 183: Time Was Almost Up

Once again, Li Yang returned to the halls of the High Priestess and found himself trapped in a conversation. Save for Priestess Mitsuko being around in the hall as a bystander, it was actually getting nauseous from being in the same room as the High Priestess.

This time around, a green sickly haze erupted from the sinuous fingers of the High Priestess as she spewed out something from her hookah.

She sucked in deeply before letting out a trail of green rings from her mouth.

Whether or not it was intentional, the High Priestess Rhelea shifted from using mind-altering smoke and fumes to just a subtle fragrance that gave him a headache. His sharp senses were now being turned against him.

And he couldn't even use Ao in her presence to avoid detection.

He only scrunched up his nose.

It was as if she was spurring him to use his skills but that was if she ever had a whiff of his true abilities. Only Mitsuko herself knew that, but… that was where their blood contract appeared. 

So perhaps this was only the High Priestess's choice?

Li Yang could only hope that much.

"How far up did you ascend?" Rhelea asked him with a smile.

Her gaze lingered to the ten beast cores in front of her, and she quickly noted down their quality with her aura. Compared to the Mashiro Temple's own cultivated beasts that grew beast cores, those from the Frostborne Mountains were more pure in quality.

Either it meant that their quality increased suddenly from the last time she visited… or this man went up far higher than any normal person could. Someone from another country? If Rhelea were to believe Mitsuko, then she was a fool.

Prophecies foretold of his return and the goddess herself descending to grace them after a millennium. Whether the time was off by a couple of centuries, High Priestess Rhelea would never let the consideration that she was in front of Aseroth's incarnation.

"Not too high. I didn't want my blood to freeze," Li Yang said.

Rhelea raised her brow. "Is that so?" It seemed like the man in front of her did not know how the Ao's purity told much about the truth of the matter. Or he was simply lying through his teeth.

"Mhmm." He nodded.

Li Yang's blank face was unreadable.

It was always a little annoying to the much older woman when men like him had little to say or respond. Maybe it was him who got on her nerves. Perhaps if Li Yang had been any uglier or scarred, Rhelea would relish throwing the Beast Cores at his face.

But his good looks also saved him from such treatment.

"Well, you have worked hard in obtaining them and unscathed too." The High Priestess leaned forward and interlaced her fingers together.

Both men and even women who came in her presence fell prey to her tantalizing skills, but there was a lack of response in him.

"It was because of my skills… Priestess Mitsuko has also been a good spar partner," Li Yang said. His gaze shifted away from the High Priestess's exposed bosom to Mitsuko's face.

She was staring right past him, as if he didn't exist at all. Maybe it was just the smoke that altered her senses. But he still wanted to give where credit was due.

Even if she couldn't hear him.

High Priestess Rhelea batted her eyelids. "You speak too highly of Mitsuko. If I were mistaken, then I would have believed she was your Lady and not Setsuko. I will pretend that I never heard your words just this once, but you need to show your loyalty properly."

"I am," Li Yang said.

"And that's by spending time with another woman?"

"I don't think there's anybody else who I can spend time with?" Li Yang lifted a brow. "Everyone here is a woman. It can't be helped. I am doing my best to support Lady Setsuko's desire to control her unlocked ability while also staying useful and sharp."

High Priestess Rhelea's lips twitched. "Yes, nobody else but you is the man here. Quite lucky. I'm quite sure that a great number of the ladies here are only looking for the opportunity to quench their curiosity with you. You must stay strong and uphold your vows."

There was no compulsion forcing him to speak up, and yet he wanted to say that he wasn't affected by any of that? His jaw tightened for a moment as he thought about his time here. While the idea of monogamy might have made his actions with both Leila and Mitsuko questionable, Li Yang couldn't measure himself in these lenses anymore.

Right or wrong.

He was both someone trapped in this harem's game and yet still actively pursuing it for his own benefit.

Li Yang stopped his train of thoughts and looked back at the High Priestess. Whether it was intentional or not, she had forgotten all about the beast cores and simply focused on engaging with him.

Goading or curiosity, none of that mattered to him.

"...If you'd like to purchase the Beast Cores I brought, it would also be appreciated," He said at last. Although his nose now adapted to the obnoxious and overbearing fragrance, Li Yang wanted to leave now.

He needed to absorb the Beast Cores and power up the World Warper.

Setsuko was aware of the situation right from the start, Li Yang spoke it with her when he first unlocked her core. Pairing that with the recent message from the Panda and the casket in ice in Frostborne Mountain Peaks.

His time here was almost up.

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Author's Note: Welcome back! It seems like all of the Privilege Chapters suddenly got freed so here we are again lol. Tier 1… and I need to fill it up again because yes money helps me stay alive xD But if you bought this Privilege right now on July 1… you must have unlocked this chapter for 1 coin. Enjoy the Evil Panda Promo while it lasts!