Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 424: Leveling Up The Physique, Celestial Temptress Eyes

Isaac reflected, 'I nearly ventured across the river into the underworld back there,' as he brushed away imaginary sweat from his brow.

He tweaked his hold a little.

Celia slumbered peacefully in his embrace, her breaths coming soft and gentle. Her face held a serene, almost pure innocence, with lips slightly ajar like she was lost in a delightful dream. No one seeing her like this could imagine the intense force she unleashed just moments before.

He released a deep sigh.

'Who could have crafted such a pill?' he pondered. 'Its aphrodisiac potency surpasses the combined lust-boosting power of mine and Sis' abilities.'

Worry furrowed his eyebrows.

His thoughts wandered ahead to what lay in store.

Eventually, he would face a comparable ordeal with Emily and Alice.

Dealing with Emily posed no issue. She usually allowed him to steer things, seldom pushing back against his rhythm. He could manage the pace with her.

But Alice...

He breathed out gradually.

'No point dwelling on it now. I'll handle that when the time comes.'

At least for the moment, he had made it through.

The sole genuine comfort amid all this was that Professor Catherine didn't require the Heaven-Reversal Moon Elixir. As a Champion rank, her years far outlasted his own. Had she taken that pill and the situation spiraled similarly...

A shiver ran through him.

'She truly would have drained me until nothing remained.'

A bitter grin crossed his lips.

'Perhaps I should begin seeking out herbs or elixirs that extend life. They could prove vital for my survival someday.'

He eased Celia a bit in his arms.

"Let’s go," he whispered. "I’m going to help you wash up."

She let out a faint noise and gave a subtle nod, still mostly asleep. Her arms draped loosely over his neck while he bore her toward the bathroom.

Exhaustion had claimed her fully. She was utterly spent.

He placed her down with care and proceeded to cleanse them both quietly. The soothing warmth of the water cleansed the remaining warmth hanging in the atmosphere. While tending to her delicately, something caught his eye.

A soft pink marking had emerged on Celia's lower belly.

"..."

Isaac bent nearer to examine it.

It was delicate yet elaborate, formed by swirling lines that evoked pink crescent fires weaving together. The pattern seemed unfinished, as though it was gradually taking shape.

He rubbed his temples.

Despite his modest understanding of elixirs, one fact stood clear to him.

Boosting desire and imprinting a visible seal weren't standard features of the Heaven-Reversal Moon Elixir.

These elements had been deliberately incorporated by someone.

"Did some deviant alchemist invent these elixirs?" he grumbled quietly.

He carried on with the gentle washing, yet his mind kept racing.

The marking served no ornamental purpose.

It signified the triumphant merging of essences.

As the elixir broke down, Celia had drawn in sufficient Celestial Kitsune essence from him to secure the reversal effect for good. Henceforth, during their intimate moments, the Physique Refinement would shift to benefit her.

Once the marking fully formed and her harmony with it peaked, she might even replicate one or two of his skills or affinities.

How had he come by this knowledge?

Catherine had enlightened him.

In the midst of the earlier turmoil, Catherine had materialized within the Mirror Dimension. She confessed that watching him and Celia proved "too much stimulation" for her, prompting her to join in.

Unlike Celia, who now rested exhausted in his hold, Catherine hadn't succumbed to fatigue.

Far from it.

When it all concluded, she had stroked his head, dubbed him a good boy, and departed.

Isaac's jaw clenched a touch at the recollection.

Revenge burned in his thoughts.

He had devised a plan already.

Catherine brimmed with overconfidence. Allowing her a few more victories to drop her defenses would let him catch her off guard.

Drawing in a measured breath, he steadied his nerves.

Upon completing the bath, he lifted Celia back to the bed and settled her in with tenderness.

He pivoted to depart.

Her fingers seized his wrist.

Even in slumber, she clung to him.

He gazed at her hand encircling his, then let out a quiet sigh and perched on the bed's edge.

"Fine. I’ll stay until you fall into deep sleep."

He reclined a fraction, permitting her grasp to linger.

Rather than idle away, he addressed his thoughts inward,

’System. Show Celia’s Physiques’ progress.’

A see-through panel materialized in his vision.

Infernal Monarch Physique (Level 0, Progress: 0% → 40%)Sinbound Physique (Level 0, Progress: 0% → 40%)

Isaac fixed his gaze on the figures.

The Heaven-Reversal Moon Elixir had utterly rerouted the refinement gains.

He received zero benefits.

All had flowed to her.

A grin gradually spread across his features.

He bent closer and lightly tweaked her nose.

"Considering your usual behavior, who'd suspect you're the sole person here holding two physiques? I might be the War God’s son, and I started with just one."

In her sleep, Celia's mouth corners lifted in smug satisfaction, as though she'd caught his words. Her grip on his hand firmed.

"I’m not praising you," he remarked with a light laugh.

He adjusted his position and turned his focus inside once more.

’System, share Celia’s Physique progress!’ he thought with a grin, anticipating the gratifying payoff after his strenuous efforts.

Infernal Monarch Physique (Level 0, Progress: 7% → 47%)Sinbound Physique (Level 0, Progress: 7% → 47%)

The sensation hit him right away.

A subtle rush coursed through his frame.

Then he pressed on.

’System, share Professor Catherine’s Physique!’

Celestial Tempter Body (Level 0, Progress: 7% → 100%)Your Physique has reached 100% refinement! You can now level up your Physique!

Isaac blinked.

Then a gradual smile bloomed on his face.

"So that’s why she left in such a hurry," he whispered.

Catherine had evidently awaited this milestone. She likely sensed an impending breakthrough and sought to avoid interruptions.

Minutes later, Celia's hold slackened entirely. She stirred in her rest and turned a little onto her side.

Isaac rose with caution and shifted to the floor mat.

He settled into a cross-legged posture and shut his eyes.

"Let’s do this properly," he said softly.

Mana surged from his center.

It spread outward, saturating his channels with a rhythmic throb. The power remained precise and compact, attuned to the fresh refinement limit. He sensed a core shift reorganizing within him.

His skeleton seemed both lighter and more resilient.

His sinews contracted and eased under his command with heightened accuracy.

No explosive outburst or raging energy disrupted the space.

Yet the transformation ran profound.

Celestial Tempter Body has reached Level 0 → Level 1.

He parted his eyelids gradually and breathed out.

"I feel stronger."

He balled his hand and then unclenched it. Mana streamed through his limb more fluidly, quicker to heed.

"The mana circulation increased tremendously. I can control each muscle to a much finer degree than before. And... my additional abilities that aren’t mentioned in the status like the lust increasing ability were strengthened too."

He rose and at once spotted the slim film of dirt on his skin.

"Of course."

Advancements always brought mess.

He returned to the bathroom.

Gazing into the mirror, he halted abruptly.

His eyes were different.

They gleamed like a golden void. Amid the gold swirled a motion, akin to a small whirlwind funneling toward a minuscule dark core at the heart. The whirlpool tugged at his attention.

For an instant, he felt pulled into his own image.

He recoiled on reflex.

"What was that?"

He approached the mirror cautiously again.

The instant his stare met the glass, the drawing sensation resurfaced.

"Those are Celestial Temptress Eyes—Celestial Tempter Eyes in your case."

He went rigid.

Catherine materialized soundlessly behind him and encircled his midsection with her arms, perching her chin gently on his shoulder.

"It’s your new ability," she went on evenly. "They will make others attracted to you more easily. You need to be careful."

He eyed her in the reflection.

Her gaze mirrored the golden swirl with its dark nucleus.

And like his, her looks had refined subtly. Her traits now carried a keener grace.

"It will affect people with weak willpower very quickly. If you leave them active carelessly, you might seduce half the city without meaning to," she noted.

He gulped.

"That sounds troublesome."

She let out a gentle titter. "Alice might come after you with a chopping knife."

His face altered at once.

"Don’t joke like that."

"I’m not joking," she answered casually. "But you can control them. Follow my mana."

Unlike Isaac, who juggled multiple lineages and physiques, Catherine possessed a single prevailing bloodline and form. This granted her sharper insight into her powers.

She directed her palms higher.

"Focus on the spiral of mana. Don’t resist it. Redirect it."

"I’m dirty," he grumbled. "Can I bathe first?"

"It’s fine. I don’t mind."

Her mana seeped softly via his temples, channeling into his eye pathways.

"Feel how it rotates inward. Instead of pulling others in, imagine it folding inward into yourself," she murmured.

He complied.

The golden spiral decelerated.

The dark core contracted.

In moments, his eyes reverted to their usual state.

He blinked.

"That’s better."

Catherine held on. Her embrace stayed around his neck.

"You can change your appearance to my race, right? Do it once for me."

"Why?" he questioned promptly.

She grinned. "Why not? Are you embarrassed by the tails?"

He tensed.

She hit the mark.

Even so, he wouldn't confess it.

Mana coursed within him.

His frame altered faintly. His ears faded, supplanted by fox ears crowning his head. Five substantial tails emerged at his back. In contrast to Catherine’s refined, fluffy ones, his loomed larger and more commanding, swinging with formidable weight.

She regarded him with evident delight.

"You look good."

Her digits ascended and softly toyed with his ears.

He jerked a bit.

Her smile broadened.

"I didn’t know your ears would be this sensitive."

"They’re not sensitive," he shot back swiftly.

She arched a brow and kept caressing his ears.

"Stop that."

She chuckled lightly and persisted regardless. Briefly, her typical poise softened into uncomplicated delight. Simple pleasure.

Eventually, she urged him to shift into his complete fox shape too.

He declined.

"I’m not doing that."

"Why?"

"No."

She finally yielded.

They wrapped up the cleaning, and he reverted his form to human before exiting the Mirror Dimension.

Catherine lingered to uphold the mirror dimension for Celia, guaranteeing her continued tranquil rest.

As Isaac stepped into the living room, a voice reached him.

"Are you done?"

He spun around.

Sword Empress positioned herself by the window.

Her gaze swept over him briefly.

Then it sharpened a fraction.

"Your appearance... improved. Did Catherine have a breakthrough in her physique?"

"Yes," Isaac answered.

She dipped her head once.

"Get ready and come outside in ten minutes."

She pivoted to exit.

Struck by an abrupt impulse, Isaac probed her status.

[Status: Feels embarrassed due to what she saw inside the Mirror World.]

He halted.

’...She can see inside the Mirror World.’

A gradual, uneasy smile crept over his face.

Certain truths were preferable unknown. He regretted glancing at her status.

He gave a faint shake of his head.

"Focus," he whispered to himself.

More pressing matters demanded his attention.

’System, show me all buildings that have been completed.’

The panel surfaced.

Divine Doctrine has been completed. Lord EXP +50Market (Level 1) has been completed. Lord EXP +50Hundred-Mile Mortar has been completed. Lord EXP +15Mana Cannon Emplacements completed. Lord EXP +20Arcane Ballista Platform completed. Lord EXP +15Air Purification Tower completed. Lord EXP +5Watch Towers completed. Lord EXP +20You have reached Lord Level 4You have reached Lord Level 5You have unlocked Lord Skill—