Shen Hao stood alone in the quiet white void, the lingering taste of blood on his lips bringing back a wave of unexpected memories.
Apart from Yui Ling, no girl had ever kissed him like that before.
The contrast between the two was stark—where Yui Ling’s presence was filled with genuine warmth, tenderness, and fragile affection, this System Spirit’s kiss had been a cold, calculated ritual of blood, demonic binding, and forced submission.
Yet, both were now tied to his complicated existence in this unpredictable world.
Yui Ling…
he thought silently, her gentle face briefly flashing through his mind before being replaced by his usual cold composure.
There’s no room for sentimentality right now.
everything like system in this world is either an obstacle or a tool.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Shen Hao turned his attention away from his personal thoughts, preparing to shift his consciousness back into the real world where his manifested slave spirit was now waiting for him.
But before he can go , he noticed a looming shade of Shen Tian in the distance.
Shen Hao stared fixedly at the distant figure of Shen Tian, a faint flicker of shock passing through his eyes.
Upon closer inspection, the shadow looked unnaturally grotesquely warped.
It was entirely consumed by a swirling, pitch-black miasma, standing completely motionless like a hollow, lifeless shell devoid of any soul.
This makes no sense…
Shen Hao thought, his brows furrowed tightly as he analyzed the eerie phantom.
I already erased Shen Tian’s consciousness and devoured every last trace of his memories.
So what is this leftover husk doing here?
‘Is this some sort of new ability unlocking within me?
A sudden, dangerous temptation crossed his mind.
If I walk over there and touch that shadowy figure…
will I absorb whatever corrupted remnant is left?
Will it grant me a new power?’
He took a half-step forward, but quickly stopped himself.
‘no, i mustn’t take risk, let’s think about it later.
Shen Hao severed his focus from the void.
With a simple thought, the vast white expanse and the bowing System Spirit dissolved into mist.
Outside:-
Shen Hao opened his eyes.
The blinding whiteness of the Void vanished, replaced by the warm, amber glow of his estate’s bathhouse.
Before his vision even fully cleared, he felt a pair of soft, skilled hands pressing firmly into his shoulders.
Her fingers were cool against his heated skin, expertly kneading the tension from his muscles with a grace that felt practiced.
She leaned over him, her breath ghosting against his ear as she whispered.
“Master, please relax.
Your body is holding too much tension.
Is the pressure to your liking?
Tell me, and I will serve you however you wish.”
Shen Hao didn’t flinch.
He sat still, letting his head loll back slightly, his eyes half-closed as he analyzed the sensation.
The physical touch was real—unnervingly so.
“Stop,” he commanded quietly.
The spirit instantly ceased her movements, bowing her head in silence.
Shen Hao turned his head to look at her through the steam.
She looked ethereal, her features delicate and perfect, her eyes filled with a predatory kind of devotion.
‘She really looks seductive but it’s not that easy to get my trust.’
“Are you a succubus?” Shen Hao asked bluntly, his tone flat.
“Everything about you—the way you move, the way you bind, the way you’re trying to seduce your way into my favor—it screams of a succubus trying to ensnare a cultivator.”
The System Spirit blinked, then broke into a melodic, lighthearted laugh that echoed softly in the bathhouse.
“Master, you have such a wild imagination,” she giggled, her eyes dancing with playfulness as she smoothed back a stray lock of hair.
“I am a spirit bound to your soul, not some common demon of pleasure.
Why must you keep labeling me with such…
colorful titles?
I am simply fulfilling my role as your slave.
Shen Hao leaned back against the smooth marble edge of the bath, the warm steam swirling around him.
“How many masters have you had before me?” Shen Hao asked bluntly, his tone icy and analytical.
The System Spirit paused her delicate movements.
“Master, you are the very first!” she declared hurriedly, shaking her head.
“It hasn’t been long since I died in my previous life.
When the System found my lingering soul, you were the first host I was ever bound to!”
“And Master…
if you are concerned about my body…
please rest assured.
My physical form and my soul core are completely pure and untouched,”
“In my past life, I belonged to an elite demonic sect where I was trained in the arts of slaughter and seduction.
But before I could ever put those techniques to practice on anyone worthy…
my life was cut short and because of that my combat experience is not immortal level.”
Shen Hao listened to her explanation without a single flicker of emotion on his face.
‘It seems that in its previous life she was quite powerful, second only to the immortals.’
“Fine,” Shen Hao said flatly, interrupting her thoughts.
“Go back inside the White Space for now.
I need some rest.”
The System Spirit didn’t question his command.
She bowed deeply, her expression filled with gentle obedience.
“Yes, Master.”
Her physical form began to blur and fade into translucent light.
Instead of simply vanishing into thin air, the mist streamed forward, smoothly merging directly into Shen Hao’s chest.
Silence returned to the bathhouse.
The warm steam drifted lazily through the air, leaving Shen Hao entirely alone in the bath.
Just then A soft, clear chime echoed directly inside his head, followed by her light, sweet voice.
[Master!
It seems that now our bond is complete, I can communicate with you mentally whenever I’m resting inside your soul realm!]
Shen Hao opened his eyes slightly, a small nod of satisfaction playing on his lips.
“That’s convenient,” Shen Hao replied in his mind.
“If I ever need information or want to ask you something, you don’t need to physically manifest every time.
Just speak to me like this.”
[Understood, Master!
I am always at your service,]the spirit replied cheerfully from within his mind space.
‘Why on earth is she sounding so excited?,If someone strips away your absolute freedom and chains your soul to their will…
you shouldn’t be so damn cheerful about it.’
Shen Hao wondered, utterly baffled by the spirit’s reaction.
“Guys, I might change the book cover soon!
So if you notice a new cover page, don’t get confused—just look for the title at the bottom:-third rate villain: stealing heroines and opportunities.
The story and chapters will continue right here as usual!”