Manipulative Harem God-Chapter 21: System Shop (1)

"Finally ..." Zhang Wei let out a long, exasperated sigh as he stepped into his room, closing the door behind him.

He had been waiting for this moment for hours - a chance to be alone with his thoughts and explore the mysteries of the system without interruption.

As he turned around, he caught sight of Feng Xinyue pouting in the corner, her arms crossed stubbornly. He had left her in Yu Lei's care, but the little nizi had been unwilling to leave his side.

"Go on now," he said firmly, turning to face her. "I'll see you in the morning."

Feng Xinyue's pout deepened, but a stern glare from him quickly put her in her place.

With a huff, she reluctantly made her way out of the room, leaving Zhang Wei alone at last.

"I must teach her a lesson in the future!" Zhang Wei thought to himself, feeling that Feng Xinyue needed some discipline. However, he knew that if the Sky God learned about his plans for his daughter, he might personally descend to the lower world.

Zhang Wei had learned about the Sky God through the system. He was the ruler of the higher plane and not someone to be trifled with. Nonetheless, Zhang Wei couldn't help but feel that Feng Xinyue needed to be put in her place. He made a mental note to come up with a plan that wouldn't attract the Sky God's attention.

Afterwards, Zhang Wei took a deep breath, relishing the silence that filled the room.

The day had been long and arduous, but he had persevered. Now, he could finally focus on the task at hand - exploring the depths of the system and unlocking its secrets.

Soon, a interfaced opener in front of him.

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-Villain System-

User Status

-View your current level, experience points, and abilities.

System Shop

-Purchase powerful artifacts, potions, and equipment to aid you on your quest for dominance.

Quest Log

-View available quests and their rewards. Complete them to earn experience points and unlock new abilities.

Inventory

- Can be used to store non living items.

Update the system to access more options!

Points needed for update: 100k Villain Points.

Villain Points Available: 10000

======

As Zhang Wei gazed at the menu, he felt a thrill of excitement course through him. The possibilities were endless - with enough Villain Points, he could unlock a whole new world of power and prestige. He could purchase the most powerful artifacts, join a faction, and rise through the ranks to become the most feared villain in the world.

But first, he needed to earn more Villain Points. The meager 10k he had accumulated so far were nothing compared to the 100k needed for an update.

Zhang Wei's eyes lingered on the System Shop, imagining all of the powerful weapons and potions he could purchase with enough Villain Points. He could already feel the rush of power surging through his veins.

But first, he needed to view his own status.

=======

Status:-

Name: Zhang Wei

Age: 25

Body Rank: Mortal Body

Cultivation Level: None

Bloodline: None

Spirit beast: None

Cultivation talent: Heavenly Talent

Spiritual root rank: Heavenly Thunder Root (Heaven-defying Spiritual root)

======

[A/N: For detailed ranks check auxiliary chapters.]

Zhang Wei's eyes widened in disbelief as he realized the magnitude of his talent. "Heavenly talent...," he muttered to himself, stunned by the realization. The system had explained that only the Sky God was known to be alive with this type of talent.

Could this mean that he had the potential to reach the heavens?

The system interrupted his thoughts, [Host, the Sky God only possessed the Golden Sun root, which is a divine rank spiritual root. However, you have the heavenly thunder root, which is one rank higher.]

Zhang Wei was taken aback by this revelation. "Am I the only person alive to possess the heavenly spiritual root then?"

The system replied, [No, host. In the past, that would have been the case. However, the Celestial Princess was born with the Celestial Phoenix root, which is the same rank as yours. However, she only has divine rank cultivation, or else she would have overshadowed you.]

Zhang Wei shrugged off the system's words. "It doesn't matter if she surpasses me in talent. She will be living under me from now on," he said confidently.

He didn't fear Feng Xinyue; she was basically his devout follower now. Until she regained her memories, she was harmless to him.

System: " _ "

[Host, are you serious about taking her as your woman?] 𝘣𝘦𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘦𝘭.𝘰𝘳𝑔

Zhang Wei raised his eyebrows, "Why are you overreacting?"

[... The whole Divine realm will come to cut you into pieces if they hear about the host's audacious remarks...]

"But is that the only reason?" Zhang Wei spoke with suspicion.

[...]

The system refused to divulge any further information, but Zhang Wei knew there was more to his talent than just her strength, or else the system wouldn't be overreacting to this extent.

Regardless, he felt suspicious about his extraordinary talent. "System, why do I have this otherworldly talent?" he asked.

Zhang Wei was growing increasingly frustrated as he waited for a response from the system. Two minutes of complete silence passed before a defeated sigh finally echoed in his mind.

[... Everything comes with a price, host. If you possess such talents, you will also face equivalent tribulation in the future.]

"That doesn't answer my question," retorted Zhang Wei, feeling more agitated than ever.

[... Host, please understand that the system is bound by certain rules and limitations. We cannot reveal everything about the world to you.]

Zhang Wei's expression softened slightly as he heard the system's explanation. He knew the system won't tell him about many things, but Zhang Wei only wanted to try his luck... He couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity and suspicion.

He made a mental note to extract every bit of information he could from the system in the future.

As his mind wandered, he realized he had almost forgotten the reason he had started this conversation with the system. The various ranks of cultivation talent in this world suddenly flashed through his mind, and he focused his attention back on the present.

So, the cultivation talent in this world is divided into various ranks.

Heavenly Talent: The rarest and most powerful talent, possessed by only a handful of individuals in the entire history of universe. Those with this talent are considered to be blessed by the heavens and have unparalleled potential for cultivation. They are often sought after as disciples by the most powerful sects and clans.

Divine Talent: A powerful talent that allows for rapid progress in cultivation and mastery of techniques. Those with this talent are highly respected and often occupy important positions in their sects or clans.

Supreme Talent: A strong talent that allows for steady progress in cultivation and mastery of advanced techniques. Those with this talent are respected for their skill and often lead missions or expeditions.

Elite Talent: A natural talent that allows for steady progress in cultivation and mastery of intermediate techniques. Those with this talent are respected for their skill and often act as mentors to younger cultivators.

Average Talent: A common talent that allows for slow but steady progress in cultivation and mastery of basic techniques. Those with this talent often need to work harder than others to achieve success.

Mediocre Talent: A weak talent that makes cultivation difficult and progress slow. Those with this talent are often overlooked and may struggle to advance in the cultivation world.

Poor Talent: A very weak talent that makes cultivation almost impossible. Those with this talent are often considered to be hopeless cases and are rarely given the opportunity to train with reputable sects or clans.

Mundane Talent: No talent in cultivation. They are often referred to as commoners and are not taken seriously by the cultivation world. They are limited to the mundane and ordinary life.

Then, comes the spiritual root, it's hierarchy is as follows:

Heaven-Defying Spiritual Root: The rarest and most powerful spiritual root, allowing for incredible potential and rapid cultivation progress. Those with this spiritual root are considered to be destined for greatness.

Divine Spiritual Root: A powerful spiritual root that grants exceptional talent and potential in cultivation. Those with this spiritual root are highly valued and often groomed for leadership positions.

Superior Spiritual Root: A strong spiritual root that allows for steady progress in cultivation. Those with this spiritual root are respected and often given important roles in their sects or clans.

Average Spiritual Root: A common spiritual root that allows for slow but steady progress in cultivation. Those with this spiritual root are often overlooked and have to work harder to achieve success.

Inferior Spiritual Root: A weak spiritual root that makes cultivation difficult and progress slow. Those with this spiritual root are often looked down upon and may struggle to find success in the cultivation world.

Suddenly, Zhang Wei knitted his eyebrows as he noticed something unpleasant.

"Why are so many things locked in the system shop?" he asked.

[... The host needs to level up his cultivation to unlock them.]

Zhang Wei fell silent. He wanted to scold the system, but he restrained himself. "Hey, System, do you have a will of your own?" he asked.

[... Yes, host. But why do you ask?]

"So, are you partial towards good or evil?" he inquired.

[No, Host. The system doesn't care about it either way. The more evil people there are in the world, the more it will lead to the generation of people with heroic hearts.]

Zhang Wei nodded in agreement, satisfied with the system's response.

The words of the system were too profound for the average person to fully comprehend. However, they displayed the system's profound knowledge of universal balance. Simply put, the more evil that exists in the world, the more heroes will rise to counter it. One cannot exist without the other.

The spirit of a hero is only ignited when there is a demon king to defeat. How can an 18-year-old virgin beta transform into a hero if there is no cause to fight? Wouldn't he just remain a beta until he experiences a setback that makes him question the current state of the world?

This can be observed by how many NGO founders are individuals who have survived a calamity or terrorist attack.

Thus, the system did not care how evil Zhang Wei acted, as the world would balance itself out in the end.

"So why did you give me a task in the beginning?" asked Zhang Wei, having some guesses about it.

[The task was assigned to the host to help understand the host's heart and mind properly, and thus calibrate the system according to the host's needs. If the host's heart was kinder, then the quest log would have been designated differently than it is now.]

Zhang Wei nodded, realizing that his guess wasn't far off.

"So why are the items locked in the system? I clearly got the villain system, when did villains start to have limitations?"

[...]

The system felt that Zhang Wei had a point this time and had to bow to its host's wits.

[The system has been recalibrated, host. Now all the items in the shop are open, but the host has to pay the price to obtain them as usual, which is in villain points. Villain points can be earned by doing actions that are considered to be evil, or by completing quests.]

Zhang Wei smiled with satisfaction, as he never thought the system would actually consider his request.

"What about the bloodlines and spirit beast section? It isn't here?"

[Some sections of the system will be unlocked only after it is updated to the next level. The host should prove their worth as a villain by updating the system using villain points.]

Zhang Wei sighed, realizing that this was the maximum benefit he could extract from the system for now.

Zhang Wei was not just greedy, but he was a shrewd negotiator. He knew that every interaction with the system had the potential to change the dynamics of their relationship, and he didn't want to be caught off guard. He approached every request with caution and deliberation, weighing the risks and rewards of each decision.

Despite his desire to get as many benefits as possible from the system, he never acted carelessly or impulsively. He knew that the system was not just a tool, but a complex entity that had its own motives and desires.

He had already seen glimpses of the system's power and intelligence, and he suspected that there was much more to it than he initially thought, the system already has it's own will, what is stopping it from having a whole consciousness, as Zhang Wei estimated.

Zhang Wei realized that the system was also dependent on him to a certain degree, as till now the system never threatened him and was trying to accommodate to his requests and nagging.

But he knew that he could not treat the system as a mere vending machine, dispensing items and powers at his whim.

Instead, he had to approach it as a partner in a complex relationship, with both parties needing each other to achieve their goals.

Even though Zhang Wei was wary of the system's potential hidden motives, he was also curious about what it might need from him in the future. He had a nagging feeling that the system was keeping some of its capabilities and features hidden from him, waiting for the right moment to reveal them.

He knew that he had to stay alert from it, at the same time extract as much benefits as possible.