CHAPTER 273: CHAPTER 273 ORE

Couriers dashed off in all directions, formation masters began inscribing ancient runes into the walls, chefs raided the spirit beast pens, and musicians hurried to tune celestial zithers that had not been played for centuries.

Meanwhile, Riley remained expressionless, unmoved by the flood of activity around him.

He didn’t need the attention. He didn’t need the reverence.

But it amused him, in a distant sort of way.

He had been feared, worshipped, hunted, and exalted in more worlds than even the immortals here could comprehend.

He had long since grown indifferent to the rituals of power—but it was pleasant to see how quickly the world bent around him.

Moments later, he was escorted through the winding stone paths of the Raven Clan’s inner sanctum.

High walls carved with sacred glyphs loomed on both sides, and the air grew more refined the deeper they walked.

At the end of the path stood an ancient courtyard, secluded and quiet, surrounded by plum blossom trees and marble lanterns.

It was a sacred place.

A place where even the clan’s ancestors would hesitate to tread without permission.

Now, it belonged to him.

The doors were opened. Incense was lit.

A gentle breeze stirred the silken curtains as if nature itself bowed in his presence.

Riley stepped inside without a word, his presence settling over the place like a calm before a storm.

The world seemed to pause—just briefly—as if unsure what to make of the man who had come from a legend older than the stars.

And outside, in the grand halls of the Raven Clan, preparations began for a feast unlike any seen in a thousand years.

A celebration to welcome the unknowable.

While deep within the courtyard, Riley waited—not for attention, not for glory, but for something far simpler.

For his maid to decide her fate.

Preparations for the feast proceeded with extraordinary speed and reverence.

The Raven Clan mobilized like a well-oiled divine machine, fully aware that they were hosting a being unlike any they had encountered before.

The ancient feast hall, rarely used save for momentous occasions, was adorned with golden silk banners embroidered with formation patterns that shimmered faintly under spiritual light.

Floating lanterns, crafted from phoenix glass and lit with soul flames, hovered in neat rows across the high ceilings.

The scent of rare spices and roasting spiritual beasts drifted through the air, whetting appetites and stirring curiosity in equal measure.

When all was ready, a servant respectfully arrived at Riley’s temporary courtyard and extended the official invitation.

The air trembled faintly with each step as Riley walked toward the feast hall—not out of arrogance or intentional display, but simply because his presence subtly disrupted the natural order of the world around him.

This time, however, he was not alone.

As he stepped into view, shimmering rifts of spatial light formed beside him, and one by one, his companions emerged.

Women of staggering beauty and unmistakable grace walked at his side, each radiating a unique aura.

Some shimmered with elemental essence—flames dancing in their hair or petals swirling around their gowns—while others bore more subtle presences, like the calm stillness of a moonlit lake or the quiet awe of a distant thunderstorm.

These were not ordinary mortals, nor common cultivators.

These were companions of a true giant in this cultivation world—each one powerful, ethereal, and in many ways, otherworldly.

"The spiritual essence here is unreal!" one of them exclaimed, her eyes gleaming as she looked up at the glowing sky.

"I know, right? So this is the Immortal Realm..." said another, brushing her fingers across the air, feeling the thick spiritual qi that clung to every molecule.

"It’s beautiful," a third whispered softly. "Peaceful... I like it already."

And bounding into view last was a small creature with a ball of fluff for a body, shimmering fur that glowed faintly under spiritual light, and bright, intelligent eyes.

"Beeeeee!" Fluffy cried out gleefully, leaping onto Riley’s shoulder and bouncing happily around his neck.

The moment Fluffy appeared, a visible ripple passed through the gathered members of the Raven Clan.

Most had only heard of such creatures in ancient scrolls.

Some of the elders had once seen faded illustrations carved into the walls of long-lost tombs.

But seeing one alive, bouncing freely around a living legend, was a different matter entirely.

"That’s a..." one of the senior elders began, stepping forward in disbelief. His voice trailed off.

He froze.

Then, without finishing his sentence, he bowed deeply.

Every other elder followed without hesitation.

They knew what it meant.

That creature—a Divine Essence Beast—was considered a holy grail in the world of alchemy.

Its aura alone could purify impurities in pills.

A drop of its blood could enhance the effectiveness of a spiritual elixir a hundredfold.

Its presence in a cultivation chamber could push a bottlenecked cultivator through their breakthrough.

Many sects had fallen into civil war just upon the rumor of one being discovered.

To see one hopping on Riley’s shoulder like a spoiled pet confirmed what many already feared—and revered.

This man was not just from the Abode of the Ancient One.

He was intimately connected to its unfathomable legacy.

No ordinary being could tame a creature like that.

No ordinary realm could house such a beast. No ordinary soul could withstand its presence.

The air thickened. Even those who had not yet bowed felt their knees weaken.

The aura around Riley and his companions was too rich, too profound, too ungraspable.

The weaker disciples found themselves involuntarily trembling, not from fear, but from the sheer weight of existence that Riley carried around him.

And yet, Riley walked casually, as if unaware of the reverence he inspired.

His gaze was calm, almost distant, as though he were watching all of this from a great height—one that none of them could ever hope to reach.

They were ants marveling at a mountain.

Evangeline Raven, already bowing in welcome, could only smile with a mixture of pride and nervous awe.

She had lived for trillions of years, stood as the matriarch of one of the immortal realm’s most respected clans, and yet she could not help but feel humbled before this man and the enigmatic world he carried with him.

"Let the feast begin!" she declared, rising to her feet and gesturing with a graceful sweep of her hand.

Dozens of servants flowed into the grand hall like water, bearing platters of divine food.

Roasted Azure Serpent wrapped in golden lotus petals.

Crystal spirit wine distilled under moonlight.

Flameflower buns that pulsed with fire essence.

It was a feast fit for an emperor—or, perhaps more accurately, a celestial being beyond kings and mortals alike.

Riley took his seat near the head of the long ceremonial table, his women seated around him, Fluffy curling up contentedly in his shoulders.

As the feast began, music played—soft at first, then rising in harmonious swells, carried by divine instruments and performed by cultivators whose fingers bled spiritual energy with every note.

Dancers followed, adorned in flowing silk woven from sky-thread, performing an ancient tale of the heavens that had been lost for generations.

And through it all, the members of the Raven Clan continued to observe Riley from the corners of their eyes—trying to memorize every detail, every word, every slight nod of approval.

For they knew: this moment would be spoken of for eternity.

And at the center of it all, Riley remained unmoved by the extravagance, his thoughts focused not on the power, not on the reverence, but on a single, quiet matter.

His maid’s future.

She would choose her path. And whatever path she chose—he would make it happen.

"You honor us with your presence, senior Riley. We, the Raven clan, are most h...," Evangeline began saying with a courteous smile, gesturing gracefully to the elevated jade throne positioned at the head of the banquet hall.

Her tone was gentle, filled with respect, but beneath it lay a tension as taut as a bowstring.

The room fell quieter at her words, even though the feast had only just begun.

All eyes naturally followed Riley as listened and replied also in brief words—not with pomp or arrogance, but with an effortless calm that made even the heavens seem more subdued in his presence.

As hostess and matriarch of the Raven Clan, Evangeline had adorned herself in a flowing crimson gown that shimmered with golden embroidery woven from spirit thread.

The dress hugged her body in just the right places, exuding elegance and allure, highlighting a figure that, even after untold years of cultivation, remained breathtaking.

Her every movement was measured, her every gesture deliberate.

She walked the thin line between seduction and dignity with practiced ease—not as a temptress, but as a sovereign woman of ancient standing.

She cast a glance at Riley’s companions—his wives and the ethereal women who followed in his wake like constellations orbiting a greater star.

They were all stunning in their own right, each radiating a different kind of power, beauty, and grace.

Any man would be lucky to have them.