Harem Cultivation System

The dense, red, and intense miasma that corroded Toru Village quickly dissipated immediately after the low mid-grade demon was put down by Haruki. The remaining low-grade demons melted down into piles of red goo.

Unfortunately, there were no survivors in the aftermath of it all—they were too late. The corruption zone erupted about two to three days ago.

The fact that a low mid-grade demon appeared made it ridiculously hard for a non-technologically advanced village—that also didn’t have any connections or ties to any of the four major clans of the Yuxian Continent.

Each of them were well known for not being any good-doers—they only invested in things or commodities that brought them a very high yield. Most wouldn’t blame them mainly for the fact that they were beneficiaries of their cruelty.

Also, the power struggle between the four Great Clans had become more intense ever since the head of the Argil Clan ascended to the imperial throne and became the supreme leader of the Yuxian Continent.

In the end, Toru Village just ended up getting crushed amidst the power struggle between higher powers.

Haruki observed this heinous sight with two eyes, his back crouched against a slightly raised rock atop which he sat. Piles and piles of dead bodies of the people they were too late to save—innocent lives that were discarded like pawns on a chessboard.

"I couldn’t save them—I couldn’t save them." He pressed a hand angrily against his forehead. The tiny veins in his pristine eyes became more prominent.

"Those cruel bastards. If only they had accepted the village chief’s petition for help sooner maybe... this village could have been saved." He scowled.

Ariel stood beside Haruki, her crimson eyes covered in the shadow of her frontal hair. Her fists were tightly clenched—teeth tightly gritted.

"Scum..." She exasperated. "So bastards like them are in this world too." She placed a pristine hand on Haruki’s shoulder. "Despicable creatures like them are a rot that is meant to be purged."

Raging wisps of red Dao erupted around her, unleashing a fleeting gust of wind.

"Oh! They will be purged, Ariel." Haruki stood. "I am the cultivator who will herald the end of their heinous reign."

His words resonated deeply with Ariel—now they had a common goal which they both intended to pursue to the bitter end—an abandoned son and a wrongfully imprisoned woman.

’Why do I get the feeling that Dion set us here on purpose?’

Haruki couldn’t quite place a finger on Dion’s motives yet.

A faint and brittle sound that could hardly be heard by someone who did not possess keen hearing. But the sound rang like a dumbbell in Ariel’s ears.

"Haruki-sama." Ariel’s eyes darted around. "There’s a weird sound coming from that direction." She pointed a finger towards the damaged hut to her left.

’What? I could barely hear a thing.’

Actually, the only thing he could hear was the humming sound of the wind.

They both decided to head towards the hut after briefly contemplating whether to blow the hut to bits or not.

"Ariel... Don’t let your guard down." Red crimson Dao condensed inside Haruki’s palm to form a blade.

"Hm... Hm." Ariel nodded her head in agreement.

The closer they got, the louder the sound became. A wooden woven basket sat inside the rubble of the hut.

"What the hell is tha—" Haruki’s eyes widened in shock—he didn’t encounter a bloodthirsty demon but a child who didn’t cry or wail, but was happily playing with a yellow rubber duck between his tiny hands.

The bright and carefree smile immediately melted Ariel’s heart—he was unaffected by the circumstances around him, bustling with joy and happiness.

’How could a child be so happy in such an environment? Nah, scratch that, how did he even survive in the first place?’

Disturbing questions kept popping up in Haruki’s mind.

Demons weren’t generous creatures that would spare the life of a child—they destroyed and consumed any and all things without exception.

"Ariel, I think we should proceed wi—"

Ariel didn’t even wait for Haruki to finish speaking; she rushed forward and cradled the baby in her arms.

"Oh my goodness. You’re cute!" She swooned over the child. As terrifying as she may be in battle, Ariel had a soft spot for cute kids.

"Who’s a cute boy? You are, you are." She tickled the child on his cheeks.

The baby didn’t show any hostility towards her or Haruki—he was ever so glad to have the company.

"Mama." He placed his tiny little, chubby hands on Ariel’s cheeks.

"Awww... you little cute thing." She snuggled her cheeks against his.

"I wish I could be snuggled too," Haruki said in a low tone as he pursed his lips.

"Dada." The child pointed his tiny, short, and chubby fingers at the now bewildered Haruki.

’Whoa! So cute.’

Haruki could no longer resist the cuteness of the child.

"Ahem!" He cleared his throat. "We can’t simply leave the child here." Haruki mentioned, knowing he couldn’t just leave the child in such a place.

"So what do you suggest?" Ariel replied with crimson-red eyes filled with concern.

Haruki was about to reply when dark hands, most likely made of condensed Dao, spontaneously started sprouting out from the ground—making their way towards the nearest lifeforms or objects.

The lifeforms in question here were Haruki and Ariel. An unusual symbol that wasn’t on the child’s forehead before suddenly appeared on it—exuding a bright white and black glow. The symbol looked like a crescent merged together with a crimson sun.

It was as if the child could hear and understand their conversation and jumped to the conclusion that he was going to be abandoned and left behind.

Haruki quickly caught wind of this and opted for the best reply for such a crucial situation.

"Dada and Mama are going to take you with us to the big city...." Haruki jammed his hands together, taking a few steps forward to reach the front of the baby.

"So you didn’t have to worry; you will not be abandoned again." Haruki patted the child on the head with a bright smile on his face.

"Yes, absolutely. You don’t have to worry, little one." Ariel contributed her own fair share.

The Dao hands faded away slowly. The child beamed with excitement and joy.

"Ariel." Haruki looked up at the moon. "Let’s call him Luno." He tilted his head down.

"Lu... Luno." The baby clapped his hands in excitement.

"It seems he likes it," Ariel stated happily.

"With that, our time here has come to an end."

Haruki, Ariel, and Luno made their way out of Toru Village.

—End of Chapter—