My Xianxia Harem Life

Chapter 235: Chapter 235 Market

While the rest of the world was thrown into a frenzy—sects mobilizing, clans dispatching scouts, and rogue cultivators racing each other across continents—Riley remained untouched by the madness.

He was, as always, doing what he did best: enjoying the quiet, peaceful life he had built for himself.

While others fought over leads and risked their lives for power, Riley lounged on a sun-drenched riverside with a blanket beneath him and a basket of fruit beside him.

Some days were for swimming in cool mountain springs, others for napping under ancient trees.

He had no interest in chasing every rumor that made the world tremble.

Life was short—or long, depending on how you looked at it—and he was determined to savor it, not run after shadows.

That said, even he couldn’t ignore the topic completely. Not when it kept slipping into the casual conversations he had with his wives.

One warm afternoon, as they sat beneath a flowering tree with the soft hum of insects in the air, Elsa leaned toward him, her eyes alight with curiosity.

”Riley,” she began, brushing a lock of precious hair behind her ear, ”they say a treasure has appeared somewhere in the north. A natural treasure... born out of nowhere. Don’t you think that sounds amazing? Should we go too?”

She looked at him with an expression that was somewhere between excitement and pleading.

It was clear that, no matter how grounded Riley was, Elsa’s adventurous spirit couldn’t resist the pull of the unknown.

Before Riley could answer, Anya chimed in, folding her arms across her chest.

”It’s not just a treasure,” she said seriously. ”I’ve heard whispers that it’s a secret realm—an ancient one. Hidden by the heavens, only revealed when the stars align.” Her expression softened as she looked to Riley. ”We have to go. I want to see it with my own eyes.”

Riley let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head slightly. ”You two are starting to sound like the cultivators I’ve been avoiding,” he said with a teasing smile. ”Running off at the first sign of a treasure, as if the world doesn’t have enough dangers already.”

Elsa pouted. ”It’s not like we’re asking to fight anyone. We just want to see it. Who knows? Maybe it’s something beautiful. Or peaceful. Or...” She paused dramatically. ”A treasure that enhances beauty and keeps us young forever!”

”Or one that makes you grow an extra head,” Riley muttered under his breath.

Anya laughed. ”Come on, husband. Don’t be such a stone. It could be fun. All of us, exploring the unknown together.”

Riley glanced between the two women. It still amazed him how well they got along now. Once, they had stood on opposite sides of a battlefield, heirs to rival empires locked in cold war.

Now, they were closer than sisters—bickering playfully, finishing each other’s sentences, always watching each other’s backs.

He sighed and leaned back, watching clouds drift lazily overhead.

”Alright,” he said at last. ”We’ll go. But only to see. If things turn ugly, we leave immediately.”

Elsa let out a small squeal of joy, hugging him tightly. ”You won’t regret this!”

Anya smiled with satisfaction. ”I’ll start packing.”

Riley closed his eyes, letting the sun warm his face. So much for lying flat and doing nothing. But maybe—just maybe—this time, it wouldn’t be so bad.

A day later, the group boarded their flying ship and took to the skies, heading north.

The vessel was a beauty—sleek, majestic, and carved from spirit-infused wood that shimmered faintly in the light.

Its hull bore elegant runes that pulsed with energy, and its sails, woven from rare sky-silk, fluttered silently against the windless expanse.

The ship rose smoothly into the air, slicing through the clouds as effortlessly as a knife through water.

Everyone came along. Riley’s wives, his other women, their handmaidens and personal attendants—all were present.

The decks bustled with activity as servants carried picnic baskets, blankets, teas, books, and various comforts.

It was a grand outing in every sense of the word, but with a relaxed, almost festive atmosphere.

There was no wariness in their eyes, no tight grip on weapons, no air of dread.

Despite the rumors of danger and fierce competition surrounding the birth of a treasure, Riley’s group looked more like they were embarking on a luxurious vacation than an expedition into the unknown.

And in a way, they were.

They brought with them only a few guards—barely a token force compared to the mighty entourages that would no doubt accompany other powerful sects.

But they didn’t need many. Riley, after all, was the strongest man in the realm. His presence alone made an army unnecessary.

He had no titles, no desire for status, and no taste for command.

The elders and cultivators of the Austere Clan revered him deeply, yet Riley had never once summoned them for protection or control.

The only thing he ever asked of them was to cultivate well, enrich their foundations, and keep to their own path.

Power, to Riley, wasn’t something to flaunt or wield over others. It was a quiet strength—a freedom that allowed him to live unburdened.

He had faced death, conquered countless trials, and reached a level where nothing truly frightened him anymore.

So while the world was busy scheming and fighting over an emerging secret realm, Riley leaned back against the polished railing of his flying ship, sipping a warm drink while the wind tousled his dark hair.

His gaze was calm, almost sleepy, as he looked out over the sea of clouds beneath them.

Beside him, Clara was laughing with Thea as they pored over a map, debating which regions of the north might hide the entrance to the realm.

More than a week had passed before Riley and his group finally arrived at their destination.

The journey had been smooth and leisurely, filled with laughter, fine meals, and quiet moments above the clouds—but all of that fell away the moment the anomaly came into view.

It was a flatland, stretching for miles in all directions, ringed by distant snow-capped peaks and whispering forests.

But the land itself, for all its openness, felt like nothing more than a stage—because the true spectacle was in the sky.

Suspended above the earth like a scar carved into the firmament, the rift loomed.

A vast, jagged slit tore across the heavens, glowing faintly with violet and silver hues.

Ethereal currents spilled from it in slow, spiraling tendrils, making the sky shimmer with a surreal haze.

The clouds surrounding it swirled unnaturally, as though drawn into the mouth of some unseen void.

It radiated power. Old power. Untamed, ancient, and not meant for mortal hands.

Even Riley narrowed his eyes slightly at the sight.

Below the rift, the land was already crawling with activity.

Camps of various shapes and sizes were scattered across the flatland.

Flags bearing the sigils of prestigious sects and ancient clans fluttered in the breeze.

Rogue cultivators mingled in the outer edges, some forming loose alliances, others glaring suspiciously at anyone who got too close.

Spiritual beasts had been summoned and tethered, while some groups had even constructed makeshift towers to gain a better vantage over the rift above.

The atmosphere was tense, charged with expectation.

Some meditated openly, trying to absorb the dense spiritual energy flooding the area, while others kept watch, their hands never far from their weapons.

There had already been skirmishes, judging by the burnt patches of grass and the faint scent of scorched Qi in the air.

Riley’s ship hovered above it all, its shadow drifting silently over the growing chaos below.

”Wow...” Fay breathed as she leaned over the railing, eyes wide with wonder. ”The rumors really were true. The spiritual essence here is so thick, I can feel it in my bones.”

”I know, right?” Bianca stood beside her, holding onto the railing with one hand, the other resting on her sword’s hilt. ”It’s almost... overwhelming. I’ve never seen or felt anything like this.”

”There’s too much Qi in the air,” Katherine muttered as she arrived, eyes narrowed. ”If someone breaks through here, their foundation might not stabilize. The energy is unnatural—too condensed, too aggressive.”

”More reason to stay on the edge,” Riley said calmly, eyes sweeping across the crowd. ”Too many eyes, too many egos. Let’s not make ourselves a target.”

With a nod, he signaled for the ship to descend toward the far outskirts of the plain, away from the inner circles where most of the powerful sects had already claimed territory.

The crew moved with practiced ease, guiding the ship down until it gently landed on a low grassy rise near the tree line, far enough to avoid immediate conflict but close enough to observe everything.

The group wasted no time setting up camp. Servants unfurled enchanted tents and laid down shimmering barrier stones, forming a stable protective field.

Cooking fires were lit, spirit-gathering arrays activated, and chairs and tables set up with an air of practiced nobility.

Despite the remoteness of their location, the Riley camp exuded quiet confidence and elegance.

Anya joined Riley as he stood at the edge of their camp, staring up at the rift in silence.