NOVPUBThis was, of course, none other than the third woman in the Stone Mountain Sect who could rival Katherine's beauty.
Her presence alone commanded attention, an ethereal figure amidst the sect's towering peaks.
Riley had always been somewhat indifferent toward women, but he couldn't deny a spark of curiosity—would she be interested in seeing him?
When he confirmed that she was, a quiet satisfaction settled in his chest. It wasn't arrogance; rather, it was the simple joy of being acknowledged by someone of her caliber.
And yet, today was not the day for their paths to truly cross. The moment belonged to him alone, and he wasn't the type to let distractions pull him from what mattered. There would be another time—one determined by fate, not impatience.
Turning his attention back to the task at hand, Riley glanced at his companions.
"Stay here. I'll just go see the sect master," he instructed, his voice calm yet firm. Without another word, his figure flickered and vanished, leaving behind only the faintest trace of spiritual energy in his wake.
He extended his divine sense, scanning the sect grounds until he located the sect master in his private hall, just as he had expected. The elder rarely left that secluded chamber, a place reserved for meditation, contemplation, and matters of great importance.
Arriving outside the grand doors, Riley raised a hand and knocked. The wood was ancient, inscribed with protective runes that shimmered faintly under the torchlight. A moment later, as if recognizing him, the door creaked open on its own, granting him entrance without a single touch. 𝚗𝚘v𝚙𝚞b.𝚌𝚘m
Stepping inside, Riley was met with the scent of aged parchment, incense, and the lingering energy of profound cultivation. The sect master sat in quiet repose, his presence like a still lake—calm on the surface, yet unfathomably deep.
Riley straightened his posture, his gaze steady.
"Ah, it's good that you're back, young Master Riley!" The Sect Master's eyes sparkled with warmth as he opened them, and a gentle laugh escaped his lips.
With a swift motion, he stood up and bridged the gap between them, his movements eerily silent. He had been expecting Riley's return, and the news of his adventures had already reached him.
The Sect Master's heart swelled with joy, knowing that his daughter, Katherine, was by Riley's side.
The union between the two had been a long-awaited one, and he couldn't have been more delighted with how things had turned out.
The Sect Master's thoughts wandered to the future of the Stone Mountain Sect, and he felt a deep sense of relief wash over him.
With Riley and Katherine together, the sect's future was all but guaranteed. He had always known that Riley was a talented and ambitious young man, and now, with an empire under his belt, the possibilities seemed endless.
The Sect Master's eyes shone with pride as he gazed at Riley, his mind racing with the potential that lay ahead.
As the two exchanged pleasantries, the Sect Master asked Riley about his journey, and Riley kindly shared the details of his adventures.
The Sect Master listened intently, his eyes sparkling with interest, as Riley recounted his tales of conquest and discovery. The air was filled with the sound of their laughter and the gentle clinking of tea cups as they sat in a lotus position, surrounded by the serene atmosphere of the sect.
"So, you've gotten yourself an empire, young Master Riley," the Sect Master said, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and admiration.
"That's totally unexpected." He paused, taking a sip of his tea, before asking more questions. Riley's face remained calm, but the Sect Master sensed a hint of seriousness lurking beneath the surface.
As they sipped their tea, the atmosphere began to shift, and the Sect Master's expression turned solemn. He knew that it was time to discuss the reason why he had summoned Riley back to the sect.
The air grew thick with anticipation, and the Sect Master's eyes locked onto Riley's, filled with a deep sense of purpose.
"Young master Riley," the Sect Master began, his voice low and measured, "I'm afraid I didn't summon you back solely to celebrate your return. There are matters of great importance that require your attention." The Sect Master's words hung in the air, heavy with an unspoken weight, and Riley's expression turned grave, as if he sensed the gravity of the situation that was about to unfold.
Riley of course did not interrupt for he knew the sect master has more to say.
"Come, Young Master Riley, let us walk among the gardens. The time for talk is over, and the time for action has begun." The Sect Master's words were laced with a sense of urgency, and Riley followed him, his heart pounding with anticipation.
The gardens were bathed in a soft, ethereal light, the sound of gentle streams and chirping birds filling the air. The Sect Master walked in silence, his eyes fixed on some distant point, as if lost in thought. Riley followed, his mind racing with questions and doubts about what this thing could be.
"I don't know how to say this, but a few days ago, I received a letter, Young Master Riley," the Sect Master said, his voice laced with a hint of trepidation. He then produced the letter from his storage ring, and as it emerged, the air seemed to vibrate with anticipation.
The letter hovered before them, its presence almost dramatic, as if it held secrets and stories that were about to unfold.
"Bang!" The chaotic sword energy emanating from the letter was palpable, and although it wasn't strong enough to cause harm, it was evident that it had been created by a high-level cultivator, someone at the Spirit Severing Realm at least. The energy pulsed with an otherworldly power, a testament to the sender's mastery over their craft.
Riley's eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded the letter, his expression unreadable.
"Hmmm... cute," he muttered, his voice low and even, betraying no emotion. He reached out a hand, and the letter hovered before him, as if awaiting his permission to reveal its secrets.
With a delicate touch, he opened the letter, and the penstrokes within were revealed to be strong and elegant, the sword intent held within them quite masterful.
However, it was the contents of the letter that truly captured Riley's attention. His eyes scanned the pages, his gaze intense, as he absorbed the information contained within.
The Sect Master watched him, curious about his reaction, but Riley's face remained impassive, giving away nothing.
As he finished reading, Riley nodded to himself, a small, enigmatic smile playing on his lips.
"I see now," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. With a swift motion, he closed his fist, and the letter turned into dust, its secrets and messages reduced to nothing more than a pile of ashes.
The Sect Master's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the sudden destruction of the letter, but he said nothing, awaiting Riley's next move, his curiosity piqued.
It seemed like some people needed him, and he was, of course, not someone unkind enough to ignore their plea or neglect to provide a response.
With this in mind, he began to ponder the most suitable and respectful way to respond, taking into account the context and tone of the original message, as well as the potential implications and consequences of his reply.
"It seems that I'm going to embark on another trip, Uncle Gideon," Riley said, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement and a dash of anticipation.
Riley retrieved a parchment of paper from his storage ring, the movement swift and effortless. With a flick of his wrist, he began to write, his brush dancing across the paper with a rhythmic grace that belied the complexity of the sword dao infused within his strokes.
His mastery of the grand dao was evident in every curve and line, as if the very essence of the sword had been distilled into the written words.
However, he tempered his response, deliberately holding back the full force of his sword dao to avoid overwhelming the recipient.
He had no desire to scare away the crows, as it were, and so he crafted his reply with a lighter touch, one that still conveyed his skill and prowess without being overly intimidating.
The result was a message that was still laced with the power of the sword, but in a more subtle and restrained manner.
As he finished writing, Riley lifted the paper into the air, and with a gentle toss, he sent it soaring upwards. The parchment folded in upon itself, as if drawn into a tiny, compact package, and then, in an instant, it shattered the barriers of space and disappeared from view.
The Sect Master watched, mesmerized, as the paper vanished into the void, leaving behind only the faintest hint of sword energy to mark its passage.
The air seemed to vibrate with the aftershocks of the paper's departure, as if the very fabric of reality had been briefly disturbed by its passage.
Riley's eyes narrowed, his gaze following the trajectory of the paper as it disappeared into the distance. He knew that his response would be received, and that the recipient would understand the nuances and subtleties embedded within the written words.
The game, as it were, had begun, and Riley was ready to see it through to its conclusion.
