The arrival of the Ryuzaki Clan was not just an event; it was a phenomenon.
The massive Voidships blocked out the sun. The roar of the Nine White Jade Dragon Horses shook the foundations of the city. Banners bearing the golden [RYUZAKI] character fluttered in the wind like imperial edicts.
At the city gate, the Grand Elder of the Way of the Void stepped forward, his face wreathed in smiles.
"Elder Kenshin! It is an honor to have the Ryuzaki Clan visit our humble province."
Ryuzaki Kenshin laughed heartily, stepping down from the flagship. "You are too kind, Old Daoist. We are just here to let the juniors stretch their legs."
"Speaking of juniors..." The Old Daoist's gaze swept over the delegation, finally resting on the magnificent Dragon Carriage.
"Hehe, I am flattered that you remember me, Senior."
A calm, melodious voice drifted from the carriage.
The beaded curtain parted. A hand as fair as jade pushed it aside.
Ryuzaki Haruto stepped out.
He wore simple white robes, yet he looked more majestic than any Emperor. His hair flowed like ink, his skin glowed with a faint, divine luster, and his eyes held the depth of the starry sky. The Ancient Sacred Body and the Supreme Bone resonated, enveloping him in a hazy, ethereal mist of Dao Rhymes.
He didn't need to pose. His mere existence was art.
Silence fell over the city square. Then, chaos erupted.
"Kami-sama! Is that the Divine Son?!" "He... he's glowing! I think I'm going blind from his beauty!" "I'm dead! I can die happy now!"
The female cultivators of the Southern Province screamed, their hearts pounding like war drums. Some fainted on the spot. Others wept openly.
"Why did the Heavens let me see him?" a Holy Maiden of a top-tier sect whispered, clutching her chest. "Now, how can I ever look at another man?"
Even the male cultivators couldn't feel jealous. The gap was too wide. You don't get jealous of the sun; you just shield your eyes.
Standing next to him, Minamoto Sayaka stepped out, her blue dress fluttering. The sight of the two standing together—the Sacred Body and the Dao Embryo—caused the ambient Mana in the square to spike, creating a vision of falling flowers.
"A match made in heaven..." the crowd murmured.
Haruto glanced at the chaotic scene with indifferent eyes. It reminded him of idol fans from his past life.
"Let's go," Haruto said to the Old Daoist. "I prefer quiet."
"Of course, of course! We have prepared the Sky Palace for you!"
The delegation moved forward, leaving a city in turmoil behind them.
The Jealous Thunder
In a secluded courtyard on the outskirts of the city.
A young man sat cross-legged on a stone bench. He wore silver battle armor, and his face was rugged, marked with crisscrossing scars. His aura was violent, crackling with arcs of blue lightning.
Ryuzaki Raijin. Sequence Five. Possessor of the Thunder Spirit Body.
He watched the distant spectacle of Haruto's arrival with cold eyes.
"They rolled out the red carpet for him," Raijin muttered, his voice crackling with static. "When I arrived yesterday, only a few disciples greeted me."
Standing beside him was a figure shrouded in black mist. This was Kuroto (Black Earth), a prodigy from the Black Cloud Clan whom Raijin had subdued as a follower.
"It is an insult, Lord Raijin," Kuroto hissed. "Those blind fools at the Way of the Void treat a ten-year-old brat like a god, while ignoring a veteran warrior like you."
Raijin clenched his fist. Lightning arched between his fingers, shattering the stone cup in his hand.
"No one is born superior," Raijin growled. "Not even Ryuzaki Haruto."
"I fought for my position. I bled in the wastelands. I hunted demons in the abyss. He just sat in a palace and drank spirit milk."
"I will prove to the Clan that he is unworthy of the Zero Sequence title. The Secret Realm will be his grave."
Kuroto's eyes gleamed with malice. "Lord Raijin is wise. Perhaps... we should test the Divine Son's patience before the Realm opens? Just to see if his bite matches his bark."
Raijin didn't answer, but the cruel smile on his face was answer enough.
The Maid and The Tea
A few days passed.
Ryuzaki Haruto settled into the Sky Palace, the most luxurious residence in Southern Sky City.
While the Elders negotiated with other factions to turn the Secret Realm into a "Juniors Only" training ground, Haruto spent his time cultivating with Minamoto Sayaka. Their "resonance sessions" were proving incredibly effective, boosting both their cultivation speeds.
One afternoon, Haruto sat on the balcony, looking bored.
Reika, his personal maid, approached him with a smile. She was dressed in the elegant black-and-white uniform of a Ryuzaki head maid.
"Young Master," Reika said softly. "I heard that the Southern Province is famous for a type of spirit tea called Clear Heart Tea. It helps calm the mind and prevent Qi Deviation."
"Oh?" Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Sounds interesting."
"I will go buy some for you immediately," Reika bowed.
"You're thoughtful, Reika," Haruto smiled lazily. "Whoever marries you in the future will be a lucky man."
Reika blushed, pouting slightly. "Young Master, please don't joke. Reika belongs to you. I will never marry anyone else."
She turned and left quickly to hide her red face.
Haruto chuckled, watching her go. "Loyal girl."
The City Market.
The market was bustling with cultivators trading treasures before the Secret Realm opened.
Reika moved through the crowd with grace. She found a high-end tea shop and spotted a jade box on the top shelf.
"Shopkeeper," Reika said politely. "I will take that box of Thousand-Year Clear Heart Tea."
"Good eye, Miss!" the shopkeeper beamed. "That's the last one. It costs 500 Spirit Stones."
Reika reached for her pouch.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the shop. A hand shrouded in black mist reached out and grabbed the jade box before Reika could touch it.
"Excuse me," a mocking voice sneered. "I'll take this tea."
Reika turned around, her eyes narrowing.
Standing there was Kuroto, the follower of Ryuzaki Raijin. He held the box, looking at Reika with a provocative smirk.
"You must be the Divine Son's maid," Kuroto laughed. "Tell your master that Lord Raijin needs this tea to wash his feet. If he wants it back... he can come beg for it."
The shop went silent. Everyone knew that provoking the Ryuzaki Divine Son's maid was equivalent to slapping the Divine Son himself.
Reika's expression turned icy.
"You are courting death," she whispered.