Chapter 223 Unsolicited
News of Riley’s engagement spread through the continent like wildfire, reaching every corner of the clan grounds and beyond.
It was the kind of announcement that stirred even the most stoic elders and brought excitement to the faces of young disciples.
"Master Riley is getting married again!" a servant boy shouted as he ran through the market square, eyes wide with excitement.
"I heard the bride is from the Golden Dragon Clan," an elderly shopkeeper whispered to his neighbor. "Two giants forming an alliance... This marriage could shake the balance of power in the entire continent."
"Of course Master Riley stands to benefit!" another chimed in, slamming his palm on a wooden table. "The Golden Dragon Clan has been the undisputed hegemon of this continent for over thousands of years. Their influence reaches into every sect, kingdom, and hidden realm. Just marrying into their bloodline would bring unimaginable resources."
"But don’t be so quick to assume," a woman cutting vegetables added. "Word has it the girl from the Golden Dragon Clan came here herself and begged for the union. Apparently, she insisted—no one could stop her."
"That wouldn’t surprise me," someone muttered from the back of the crowd. "After all, Master Riley isn’t just any cultivator. He’s the man who single-handedly defeated and killed five peak Void Tribulation experts in open combat. Five! Not even Daoist Lord Silver Arrow accomplished such a feat."
"Daoist Lord Silver Arrow did achieve that... but only through strategy and deception," an older cultivator said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "He set traps, used poison, ambushed his enemies in narrow valleys. Master Riley? He fought them head-on. That kind of raw power—no tricks, no schemes—it terrifies even the heavens."
The crowd murmured in agreement, awe and reverence thick in the air. Some even bowed slightly at the mention of Riley’s name, out of habit, respect, or perhaps fear.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the entire clan compound was alive with energy. Red lanterns were strung from rooftop to rooftop, flickering like fireflies in the dusk.
Disciples were assigned tasks—some to decorate, others to prepare feasts or polish ceremonial weapons.