We let out the full extent of our cultivations the moment the "guests" neared us. The combined power of my mother, father, and grandmothers surged forth like an unstoppable wave, rippling through the very fabric of space.
Each of them, firmly in the Divine Realm, released an aura that made the heavens tremble. It was as though the sky itself bent beneath the crushing weight of their cultivation, the atmosphere vibrating with the sheer force of their presence.
It wasn't just the air around us that quaked.
Space itself seemed to ripple and warp, distorting as though it struggled to contain the boundless power of my family's formidable cultivation.
Honestly, if space had feelings, it was probably screaming for mercy. The aura of a Divine Realm cultivator was something else entirely—like the weight of the stars pressing down on you, undeniable and relentless.
Yet, even in the face of their power, my aura was not outdone. When I released it, the very ground trembled, and space cracked, as though the Dao itself responded to my command. Time faltered, almost as if it forgot how to function.
It was as if everything slowed to a near stop, frozen by my will alone.
This was the legacy of the Yue and Bao clans—our mastery over the Daos of Space and Time. And within those twin Daos, I stood at the pinnacle. My cultivation, though not yet in the Divine Realm, was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
I could almost hear the Dao patting me on the back, congratulating me for being a natural.
My mother, father, and grandmothers glanced at me in quiet surprise. They had always known I possessed immense talent, but the control I now wielded over space and time had even them momentarily caught off guard.
I didn't blame them—I'd surprise me too if I were in their place. But that surprise would have to wait for later.
Ahead of us, the man leading the "guests" let out a loud, booming laugh that reverberated through the air. "Haha! Forgive my unannounced arrival, haha, but the Emperor's orders couldn't wait!" His laughter was easy, but the hint of his words was clear as crystal.
No matter how strong we were, the message was obvious: even the strongest sect in the Sky Above Realm was still under the Emperor's shadow. Ah, the subtle art of reminding people they're beneath you.
My father, standing tall with his arms crossed and a gaze sharp enough to cut steel, replied in a voice cold enough to freeze the heavens. "What are you insinuating, Splitting Sword?"
At his words, the very space around us pulsed, the authority of the Yue Clan heavy in the air. No one could just stroll into our sect and toss around insinuations without consequences.
"Haha, don't be so serious, Old Yue!" Splitting Sword waved it off dismissively, his tone still light, though his words carried their own subtle sharpness. He was a tall man, his jet-black hair tied loosely behind him.
Lean but undeniably powerful, he had that air of strength that didn't need to be flaunted. He could've shown up in pajamas, and the whole realm would probably still find it intimidating. Hanging at his side was his legendary sword—the very blade that had earned him his title.
It was said to be sharp enough to slice the heavens in two, though, thankfully, no one had actually tested that.
His aura, as expected of the realm's most fearsome swordsman, felt like a mountain-sized blade pressing down. Overwhelming, sharp, and cold, it cut through the air with a silent intensity that spoke of battles and triumphs untold.
Every breath he took seemed to hum with the energy of his sword, as if he and the blade were just two parts of a single, unbreakable force.
But my attention didn't remain on him for long. My gaze shifted toward the individuals standing behind him. With my All-Seeing Sight piercing through the veil of distance and time, I'd seen them long before they arrived.
I already knew the whole routine.
Almost on cue, a soft but firm voice rang through the air, cutting the tension like a knife.
"Yue Liqin~"
I felt Yue Liqin tense beside me, irritation radiating off her like heat from a forge. She didn't have to say a word for me to know exactly what she was thinking. If sighs could have a temperature, hers would be well below freezing.
The man who'd called her name was none other than Splitting Sword's disciple, and far more than that—he was the first prince of the Sky Above Realm. This guy wasn't just any prince.
Word around the realm was that he was the one everyone expected to become the Emperor's heir. In other words, a guy who radiated entitlement like a second aura.
He stood tall, impossibly handsome but still not (compared to me) in that way only someone of royal blood could be, his eyes gleaming with a confidence that was part power, part birthright. Dressed in royal blue robes embroidered with gold, he practically dripped superiority. Every movement was precise, calculated, and overflowing with a sense of destiny.
His gaze, a mix of admiration and possessiveness, was fixed solely on Yue Liqin. 'Ah,' I thought, 'so we're here for that, too.'
Yue Liqin's annoyance only deepened as she crossed her arms, glaring daggers his way. She had exactly zero interest in whatever fantasy he was entertaining, but that hadn't stopped him before.
The air grew heavier, and even I could feel the tension thickening. This wasn't just some official visit from the Emperor's side. It was personal, especially for him.
Splitting Sword, the Emperor's envoy, had come with a purpose. And now, so had the first prince of the Sky Above Realm.
Without waiting for an invitation, Chu Fengxian, the prince, glided toward us, his expression regal and self-assured, like the world itself should be grateful he'd decided to grace it with his presence. Yue Liqin stood by my side, utterly composed and without a hint of fear, though I could sense the discomfort simmering just beneath her calm exterior.
It was like watching a storm contained by sheer force of will.
When he finally stopped a few meters away, I could feel his aura, which had been masked by Splitting Sword's until now. Just like his master, Chu Fengxian's presence was sharp and commanding, strengthened not only by his sword intent but by his cultivation level.
He might have looked like he'd walked out of a painting, but that aura was as intimidating as it was irritating. It practically screamed, "Behold, it is I, the most eligible bachelor in the Sky Above Realm! Aren't you dazzled?"