CHAPTER 341: CHAPTER 341 TRACTION

The flight did not take long—it lasted only three short days before the ship pierced through the veil of realms.

This was no ordinary journey; it was a breaking-domain travel, carrying them away from the mundane mortal world and straight into the immortal realm where cultivators reigned supreme, where the very air carried the breath of the heavens, and where reality itself seemed to bend under divine laws.

Barely ten breaths after their arrival, the scene unfolded before their eyes, and every single person—servants, guards, and clansmen alike—felt their hearts thunder wildly in their chests.

They had stepped into a land of legends.

The first thing that struck them was the sky. It was no longer the dull blue of the mortal world but a vast expanse painted with shifting colors—azure, violet, and gold intertwining as if the heavens themselves were alive.

Endless streams of spiritual qi drifted through the air, thick enough to be seen like ribbons of light, swirling in patterns too beautiful for words.

With every breath, they inhaled energy so pure it made their bodies tremble with newfound strength.

"Look! That’s a flying horse!" one of the servants shouted, pointing with a trembling finger.

A herd of majestic, silver-maned steeds galloped effortlessly across the sky, their hooves striking sparks of lightning with every step upon the clouds.

"Further—look further! Dragons!" another voice cried out. High above the mist-covered peaks, enormous dragons coiled and uncoiled their bodies, scales shimmering like molten gold and jade.

Their roars echoed through the valleys, powerful enough to shake the earth, yet filled with an ancient majesty that inspired more awe than fear.

"Oh my heavens... look at that! A serpent... no, a monster snake!" a young woman shrieked, her face pale.

She pointed toward a distant mountain, and indeed, a colossal serpent was wrapped around its base.

Its body was so vast it resembled a river of black scales, each one larger than a house.

Its eyes glowed like twin suns, watching silently as if guarding the land it claimed as its own.

The gasps continued, but the wonders did not stop.

On the horizon, floating palaces gleamed like stars suspended in midair, their towers woven from jade, crystal, and immortal steel.

Bridges of rainbow light connected them, and cultivators could be seen flying freely between them on swords, fans, and even clouds shaped by their qi.

Spiritual rivers cascaded from one floating mountain to another, falling in endless waterfalls that glittered with energy so rich it could nurture entire clans for generations.

"Look there!" another clansman whispered, awestruck.

"Phoenixes! Actual phoenixes!" Sure enough, a pair of fiery birds soared past the ship, their wings trailing sparks that became blossoms of flame before fading into glowing petals drifting gently downward.

As far as the eye could see, immortal beasts and cultivators alike filled the skies, the mountains, the rivers.

It was a realm where the impossible was ordinary and where the weight of their own smallness pressed heavily on everyone’s hearts.

Some fell to their knees, trembling in reverence.

Others clutched at their chests, overwhelmed with excitement and fear.

For many of Riley’s people, it felt as though they had entered a dream they would never wake from.

Riley, however, stood calmly at the prow of the ship.

His eyes swept across the immortal realm with sharp focus, as though taking stock of everything before him.

Unlike his clansmen, he was not overwhelmed—he was calculating, weighing what this new world meant for him, for his wives, and for the Rice Clan he carried with him.

"Welcome to the Sacred Heart Sword Sect!" Senior Adam’s voice boomed like thunder, echoing across the skies.

As the great flying ship drifted lower, the veil of clouds parted to reveal a world unlike anything the mortals had ever seen.

Senior Adam’s lips curved upward, pride swelling in his chest as he basked in their awe.

Yes... this is the rightful reaction. Before the gates of the Sacred Heart Sword Sect, even kings should tremble.

But when his gaze shifted to Riley, the old man’s satisfaction faltered.

For there the young man stood—his back straight, his eyes calm, his face utterly indifferent.

Not a flicker of shock, not a trace of reverence touched him.

He looked upon this world of marvels as though it were no more impressive than a passing breeze.

Adam frowned.

"Heh..." he chuckled under his breath, though his tone carried a note of irritation.

"Still so composed, boy? Continue to act haughty then. Let’s see how long that calm face lasts once you step onto the path of true cultivation."

His sharp eyes narrowed, but only for a moment. In truth, there was something in Riley’s composure that intrigued him.

Most would gape, kneel, or lose themselves to the grandeur of this place. But this youth?

He simply was.

Adam’s mind drifted back to his earlier inspection. Riley’s spiritual root was nothing extraordinary.

It was not the heavenly root of legends, nor the divine physiques passed down through ancient clans.

His foundation was ordinary—mediocre even. By all rights, he should have struggled just to reach the first steps of the immortal path.

And yet, this very same youth had unconsciously formed a sovereign domain.

Such a thing was unheard of.

"Yes..." Adam thought, his lips curling into a half-smile.

"The heavens may have denied him talent, but in its place they’ve given him something even rarer—unyielding will. This boy will either shatter under adversity... or rise to stand above all."

The ship slowed to a halt before the sect’s grand gates.

Two colossal sword statues, each thousands of feet tall, stood guard on either side.

Their blades gleamed with immortal runes, and their very presence exuded a suffocating pressure that made the mortals fall flat on their faces in terror.

Between the swords stretched a massive jade archway, its surface carved with ancient glyphs that glowed faintly with qi.

Beyond the arch lay endless stairs that climbed into the sky, each step radiating power.

A group of disciples in snow-white robes stood waiting at the base of the steps.

Each carried a longsword at their waist, their postures proud and their gazes sharp as blades.

Though they were only outer disciples, their cultivation far surpassed anything Riley’s clansmen had ever witnessed.

Even standing still, they radiated a sharpness that seemed capable of cutting through flesh and bone.

"Outer disciples of the Sacred Heart Sword Sect greet Elder Adam!" they said in unison, bowing deeply. Their voices carried like steel clashing, loud and disciplined.

Adam waved his hand dismissively, his eyes still on Riley. "Rise."

The disciples straightened, though their eyes soon shifted toward Riley as well.

Many of them frowned slightly.

He was too young, too calm, and yet Adam’s gaze lingered on him with a weight none of them dared question.

Whispers began to ripple quietly through their ranks.

"Who is he...?"

"To stand before Elder Adam like that..."

"He doesn’t even look impressed by the sect."

Meanwhile, Riley’s clansmen remained overwhelmed.

Some trembled, afraid even to lift their heads. But Riley?

He met the disciples’ stares evenly, his expression steady, his hand casually resting on the hilt of his weapon.

Adam’s smile widened ever so slightly.

"Yes," he thought. "This boy will be interesting."

Riley and his group were soon led through the towering gates of the sect, their every step accompanied by the curious stares of disciples lining the pathways.

The Sacred Heart Sword Sect was not a place where news spread slowly.

Within the span of a single incense stick, whispers had already raced through the mountains like wildfire.

"Did you hear? Elder Adam has taken in a new direct disciple!"

"What? Impossible. Elder Adam has only ever had two in his entire life. Could it be true?"

"It is! I heard it straight from Senior Brother Xu. The boy came from the mortal realms of all places."

Gasps and incredulous laughter followed that revelation.

"The mortal realm? You must be joking. Elder Adam has chosen someone from such a barren land?"

"The boy must have exhausted the fortune of his clan for a thousand generations to stumble upon such an opportunity. To be handpicked by Elder Adam... that’s not fate, that’s outright heaven-defying luck."

Others remained skeptical, their eyes narrowing as they glanced toward Riley walking calmly behind Elder Adam.

"I refuse to believe a mortal-born brat can compare to the geniuses of our sect. No matter how much luck he has, he’ll break the moment he faces real trials."

But even as doubt and jealousy festered, there was no denying the weight of Elder Adam’s decision.

For someone of his stature to bring a disciple back personally, aboard the Skycarver no less, meant that Riley was far from ordinary—whether the others liked it or not.

The news of their arrival swept through the sect like a gale, carrying with it a wave of anticipation.

It began as a few quiet whispers among the outer disciples, then grew into a low hum of excitement that spread through the main halls and training grounds.

Within a matter of hours, the entire sect knew about Riley and his people.

He was the man of the hour, and a palpable energy charged the air as everyone, from the lowest-ranked novice to the most revered elder, waited for their chance to see him.

All eyes and ears were focused on his group, as people stopped their training and cultivation to catch a glimpse of the newcomer who had become the talk of the sect.