Manipulative Harem God

Meanwhile, on the ground, the other Zhang Wei neared defeat.

His body was ravaged, blood flowing from various wounds as his arteries ruptured under the relentless assault.

"System!?" he yelled again, hoping to fall back on the earlier plan involving the system.

"Huh? Who are you yelling for?" Lian Shen paused momentarily, squinting at the bewildering situation.

He had both of Zhang Wei's hands in his grip, his own hands now bleeding from the direct contact with the Celestial Reaver's sharp edge.

"..." Zhang Wei's face contorted in frustration as his calls for the system went unanswered.

He repeated his inquiries several more times, only to be met with silence. But then, a flash of determination crossed his face.

"Hey, you monkey, you wanted to know about my plan, right," he called out, his tone shifting to an eerie calmness as he laughed, catching Lian Shen off guard.

Caught off-guard by Zhang Wei's change in demeanor, Lian Shen nodded.

Zhang Wei's sudden bloody smile sent a ripple of unease through the place, leaving those present, including Rose, perplexed and on edge, wondering about his next move.

Rose communicated with a hand signal, silently inquiring if Zhang Wei wanted her to launch a surprise attack on Lian Shen from behind.

However, Zhang Wei signaled her to stand down, cautioning against any hasty action.

Lian Shen remained a formidable adversary, despite his diminished strength, with the martial ancestor realm backing his prowess.

The raw power gap between Zhang Wei and him remained substantial.

But then, Lian Shen's startled voice echoed through the room, the horror etched onto his face as he took a step back, his eyes locked onto Zhang Wei as if he had seen a ghost.

"You!?" Lian Shen's voice quivered with disbelief as he spoke, his frantic attempts to halt Zhang Wei betraying a sense of desperation.

"Idiot! Stop this already. I'll spare their lives if you just tell me about your plans!" he implored, his voice laced with urgency, as Zhang Wei's body began to radiate an intense, almost blinding light.

"Haha! So you would spare them and not me?" Zhang Wei's laughter reverberated through the place, sending shivers down Lian Shen's spine as Zhang Wei advanced towards him, a twisted smile in his eyes, and every step Lian Shen took backward was one of fear.

Lian Shen's eyes bulged with terror. "Y-You are a creature of evil! You must die!" he stammered, his desperation mounting.

Zhang Wei nodded mockingly. "Then die along with me," he suggested, his grip firm on Lian Shen's neck, the monk struggling desperately to break free.

"LEAVE ME!" Lian Shen yelled, a surge of strength emanating from him in a shockwave that made Zhang Wei cough blood.

Still, he held on, a wicked smile etched on his face.

Suddenly, the light intensified, now emanating from Zhang Wei's eyes.

*Booooooom!*

The force of the explosion rocked the Westlake area, a mushroom cloud ascending into the air, nearby windows shattering like fragile glass under the ferocious soundwaves.

The Zhang Wei who observed it all from above was frozen in disbelief. "Did I self-destruct?" he mumbled to himself, grappling with the reality of the situation.

He couldn't fathom his own actions, his mind struggling to comprehend the depths of his own insanity.

The swirling dust cloud, stirred by the cataclysmic event, gradually settled. Yet, as the particles gently descended, an eerie silence enveloped the scene. Not a trace of Lian Shen, nor any other soul, remained within the impenetrable barrier.

Beneath the barrier, the earth lay gouged, as though an unseen hand had thrust itself deep into the soil. It was a evidence to the violent explosion that had taken place, obliterating everything in its path.

Zhang Wei was left in a state of bewilderment.

He recalled the knowledge he had acquired from Xuan Wu, knowledge he never thought he would use – the ability to self-destruct. But who had truly perished in the explosion?

Was it his own clone?

The sudden mystery sent a chill down his spine, and a small whisper echoed in his mind. "This would have been your fate...." The voice, laced with disappointment, belonged to Xuan Yuanshi.

"Damn! Stop scaring me!" Zhang Wei recoiled in terror, his heart pounding. He took a few hurried steps backward, his hair standing on end.

He then heaved a sigh of relief as he recognized a familiar face – that mysterious, unknown entity, although it remained concealed behind a dark cloud, as always.

Xuan Yuanshi's laughter, eerie and mechanical, sent a frown across Zhang Wei's face as he finally spoke. "Did you do this to me?" His voice held a mix of accusation and curiosity.

"..."

The mechanical laughter subsided, giving way to Xuan Yuanshi's explanation. "You did this to yourself. I did not intervene. This would have been your fate if you engaged in a fight with that monk, unprepared."

Zhang Wei's troubled heart began to steady as he listened intently, trying to grasp the weight of each word. "You say—This would have been?" he asked, seeking clarification.

Xuan Yuanshi nodded, and suddenly, the air trembled, and everything shifted to black and white once more.

!!

Zhang Wei's eyes narrowed as time froze again, an unsettling sense of déjà vu washing over him.

He was back at the moment when he was about to confront Lian Shen for the first time.

Xuan Yuanshi's voice resonated in his mind, breaking the eerie silence. "The time was stopped here by me. Everything you saw next was an illusion of what could happen in the future."

"In the future," Zhang Wei murmured, a dawning realization beginning to take shape. "So, if you send me back, I would meet the same fate?"

"Maybe," Xuan Yuanshi replied cryptically, leaving the outcome shrouded in uncertainty.

Zhang Wei squinted his eyes, a chuckle echoing in his ear that made his lips twitch.

"Don't look at me angrily like this," Xuan Yuansh spoke in, "I don't want to save your soul again after your death; it's a hassle."

Zhang Wei's expression shifted, his curiosity piqued. "You said 'unprepared' earlier. What did you mean by that?"

Xuan Yuanshi teased, "Oh, so you were actually listening?"

Zhang Wei remained silent, a wry smile playing on his lips.

Sometimes, deciphering the mysterious entity's intentions felt like an impossible puzzle.

_________

Zhang Wei's senses snapped back to the present, his feet firmly planted on the ground just moments before his fateful confrontation with Lian Shen.

'System, can you hear me?' he inquired with a sense of urgency, relief washing over him as he received a response.

[Yes, host,] the system replied, signaling his return to the realm of reality where time flowed once more.

A calm determination settled over Zhang Wei, catching Lian Shen off guard.

The monk squinted in confusion, momentarily wondering if Zhang Wei had chosen to surrender.

Little did he know, Zhang Wei had no intention of submitting or meeting his doom.

In his grasp, the Celestial Reaver trembled, as though it had encountered its worst nightmare.

*Buzz!*

A resonating voice echoed forth, capturing the attention of everyone present. Lian Shen's eyes narrowed in bewilderment, for never in his life had he witnessed a weapon exhibit signs of life, let alone try to escape from its wielder.

[Host, are you attempting to absorb the Celestial Reaver into yourself?] the system inquired, its voice tinged with astonishment as it grappled with the possibility of such an occurrence.

Zhang Wei explained with calm resolve, 'After my bloodline reached 5% completion, I discovered new abilities within it.'

He revealed to the system the existence of his newfound 'Life Blood' fusion art, an ability that allowed him to meld with entities possessing life, creating a vortex within the void capable of absorbing them and augmenting his own power.

[That's it, host! Now you've got a fighting chance!] The system's enthusiastic voice echoed triumphantly, emphasizing the newfound potential. With the Celestial Reaver absorbed, Zhang Wei would possess enough strength to take on Lian Shen for a few critical moments—just enough time to rally everyone and execute a swift escape.

A determined smile played on Zhang Wei's lips as the surge of enhanced strength coursed through his body, invigorating his spirit.

Woosh!

He blurred across the space with the speed of a thunderclap, landing beside He Ming's lifeless form. With a decisive motion, he placed his hand over He Ming and initiated the absorption process.

!!

"You, stop right now!" Lian Shen's furious bellow pierced the air, his realization that Zhang Wei was harnessing some sinister method to boost his power.

Lian Shen was resolute in disrupting the ritual, but before he could act, Zhang Wei smirked. He had already absorbed all the remaining life force from He Ming, refining it into raw, potent power.

However, Zhang Wei knew he couldn't sustain this heightened state for long; time was of the essence.

[Host, you have ten seconds! Act quickly!] urged the system, as the countdown began, each tick echoing the urgency of the situation.

*Crackle! Crackle!*

Out of nowhere, dark violet lightning began to surge and dance across Zhang Wei's body. His clothes disintegrated into ash, vanishing within a matter of moments.

!!

Lian Shen, who had been in hot pursuit, came to a sudden halt, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The scene before him was nothing short of incredible, leaving him utterly astonished.

Frozen in his tracks, he could hardly believe his eyes.

The spectacle before him was beyond comprehension. "What... what is this?" he muttered, bewilderment coloring his voice.