CHAPTER 271: CHAPTER 271 FANTASY

Ruby’s tone held not only respect but a strange softness, a kind of reverence rarely seen from cultivators who once viewed power as the only currency that mattered.

Riley glanced at her for a brief moment—just long enough to offer a faint smile, unreadable but warm—and then ascended the ship’s steps without another word.

He stepped onto the polished deck and looked out at the horizon, hands folded behind his back.

The boat responded to his presence instantly. The runes ignited, and the air around them shimmered as spiritual energy poured into the vessel.

With a gentle hum, it lifted off the ground, rising into the clouds with silent majesty.

Below them, the vast immortal realm stretched on—mountain ranges that pierced the heavens, cities suspended in the sky, and ancient sects protected by divine beasts.

Somewhere out there, Ruby’s past waited for her.

Somewhere out there, the roots of her pain and the source of her strength still lingered.

And at the heart of it all now stood Riley—unbothered, unhurried, quietly reshaping the world, one step at a time.

***

The Raven Domain was not something easily seen by mortal eyes.

Even seasoned cultivators—those who had roamed the vast immortal realms and touched the edge of divine understanding—would struggle to find it.

The domain was hidden deep within the folds of reality itself, tucked away in ancient pocket realms and illusionary barriers so refined that not even celestial compasses or soul-tracking techniques could pierce its veil.

To most, the Raven Domain was a myth.

A whisper of shadow among legends.

But for those who knew the truth, it was a realm best left undisturbed.

This secrecy was not simply for show, but survival.

The Raven Clan was one of the ancient immortal clans, their lineage so old that even the oldest divine beasts would bow in respect.

Their rise to power had not come peacefully—it had been forged in blood, fire, betrayal, and countless wars that shattered heavens and tore through dimensions.

And while they stood victorious through it all, they had earned the enmity of many.

Enemies that were not weak. Enemies who, like them, had transcended the mortal coil.

Over the millennia, those who had once stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ravens now stood in opposition—old rivals whose grudges had aged like bitter wine.

Entire sects had fallen beneath the Raven Clan’s wings, and their power had grown so vast that it threatened the balance of the great immortal factions.

Thus, it was only natural that they concealed themselves behind countless layers of protection.

Their domain became more than just a home—it was a fortress, a final bastion, a sovereign world governed by their own immortal will.

Their realm bent to their laws.

Time slowed or quickened at their command. Space twisted to accommodate their whims.

Even the sky above burned with an eerie black sun—a symbol of the clan’s eternal dominion.

Only a fool would act carelessly in front of a clan that could destroy entire sects with a flick of the wrist.

For when true immortals fought, the aftermath was apocalyptic.

Planets crumbled into dust, stars collapsed into oblivion, and once-vibrant realms turned into ghostly graveyards of floating debris.

Worlds were erased as if they had never existed—entire histories burned away in a single clash.

And so, the Raven Clan chose silence. Isolation. Observation from the shadows.

Yet despite their reclusive nature, the world had not forgotten them.

The Raven Clan did not need to show its might often. Their reputation did it for them.

***

The flying boat sliced through endless skies for an entire month, traversing seas of clouds, storms of spiritual lightning, and even skimming past the edge of a broken ancient battlefield that lingered in the heavens like a scar of the past.

On the thirty-first day, the skies began to shift.

The wind changed.

The clouds parted of their own accord, and before them loomed a range of towering black mountains wreathed in mist.

These peaks weren’t just massive—they radiated power, and the very air surrounding them seemed thicker, older.

Each mountaintop was like a guardian of some ancient secret.

The flying boat slowly descended toward a large, flat platform of green jade etched with golden runes.

It hummed softly as it landed. The moment the boat touched the jade platform, a subtle vibration passed through the ground—an unseen signal sent into the earth, as if informing the land of their arrival.

Ruby stepped forward gracefully, her robes billowing behind her in the wind.

Riley followed close behind.

"It should be here, young master Riley," Ruby said quietly, though her voice held certainty and reverence.

The young man nodded, saying nothing, but his gaze was sharp, his spiritual sense already scanning the mountains around them.

They were untouched by mortal hands, and yet he sensed the presence of powerful array formations woven into the stone—concealed, ancient, and deadly.

As the two took their third step, the mountain ahead rumbled softly.

Then, with the groaning sound of shifting stone, the cliffside in front of them peeled open like an ancient gateway.

Moss-covered slabs retracted into the earth, revealing a path paved with radiant starlight and lined with floating lanterns, each flame burning without oil, dancing gently in the air.

And beyond that path—an entirely different world greeted their eyes.

A valley of dreams stretched out before them.

An ancient city sprawled across the horizon, its architecture a seamless blend of celestial elegance and martial grandeur.

Floating pagodas hovered in the sky like islands, tethered to the ground by threads of spiritual light.

Ethereal music drifted in the air, soft and melodic, like the singing of cranes.

Vast rivers of golden spirit energy wound through the city like veins, nourishing trees the size of mountains, their leaves shimmering with the luster of precious jade.

High above, celestial beasts soared through the air—phoenixes leaving trails of fire in their wake, dragons diving into lakes that glowed with moonlight, and enormous spirit hawks perched atop sacred towers.

It was no longer the mortal realm they had known.

This was the Raven Domain.

Ruby and Riley continued down the path in silence, reverence in their steps.

Though they did not rush, their presence was soon noticed.

In the blink of an eye, bells began to toll from the distant city.

A soundless ripple passed through the valley. From the sky, cultivators descended like falling stars.

They moved with precision and grace, forming neat formations as they approached the entrance to the hidden world.

Dozens became hundreds. Hundreds became thousands.

They gathered on both sides of the starlight path, laying down brilliant crimson carpets that glowed faintly with divine inscriptions.

And then—every last one of them knelt.

Heads bowed low, arms outstretched in a show of unwavering respect.

Their voices rang out together in a chorus that shook the very mountains.

"Welcome home, Lady Ruby!"

The declaration echoed across the valley like a divine proclamation.

Riley turned toward Ruby, but she stood calm, composed, and dignified—as if this reception was neither surprising nor overwhelming.

She offered a slight smile, but said nothing.

"Come, young master Riley," she said softly. "Let us not keep them waiting."

And with that, she stepped forward.

The cultivators parted without a word, lowering their heads even further.

They finally reached the inner sanctum of the Raven Domain—a grand hall carved from obsidian stone and adorned with silver inlays that shimmered like moonlight.

Pillars etched with ancient runes reached high into the vaulted ceiling, and glowing spirit lanterns floated midair, casting a serene but somber light across the room.

At the end of the hall stood a woman—tall, regal, and breathtakingly beautiful.

Her presence commanded the space like a queen without a crown.

She wore robes of dark violet trimmed in gold, her long black hair cascading like silk down her back.

Her eyes were sharp and cold, and though her expression remained still, it carried the weight of judgment and unspoken disappointment.

She bore an unmistakable resemblance to Ruby—perhaps an older sister or a twin shaped by time and experience.

Nine parts alike. One part colder.

There was no mistaking their connection—same eyes, same proud bearing, same elegance—but whereas Ruby’s beauty was warm and alluring, this woman’s was severe, almost untouchable.

Riley’s gaze flicked between them, reading the tension even before a single word was spoken.

"Mother," Ruby said, bowing her head.

So, not a sister.

A heavy silence followed.

The woman did not step forward. Her gaze drifted slowly over Ruby, then shifted to Riley, studying him like a judge measuring the worth of a stranger at court.

"You’ve returned," she said at last, her voice smooth but without warmth. "And you bring a guest."

The air grew colder. Even the spirit lanterns seemed to dim.

Ruby remained composed. "Yes. And not just any guest, mother. He’s my master."

A heavy, almost suffocating silence settled over the hall.

Neither Ruby nor her mother spoke. The quiet stretched on, thick with unspoken tension.

Then, at last, the elegant woman turned her full attention to Riley.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying him with deliberate care—head to toe, like one might inspect a rare artifact.

Her gaze wasn’t hostile, but it was far from welcoming.

It held the cool sharpness of someone trained to find flaws, to unearth secrets buried beneath the surface.

Riley, unfazed, met her gaze directly. He did his own silent appraisal, refusing to look away.

This woman—Ruby’s mother—radiated power and pride. Three breaths passed.

Then her expression changed.