When Ryu stepped into the library of the second floor, he immediately gained three sharp gazes observing him. But, there wasn't the slightest thing serious about any of them.
His Master had a ridiculous grin on his face, Flora looked him up and down as though she was observing meat at the local market, and Morvar's usual calm, cold and quiet demeanor had become tinged with a frown of jealousy as though he was trying to understand what bullshit luck this brat slipped and fell into.
It was only then that Ryu seemed to remember that this was the first time he had entered the Crystalline Jade since Eska sprung that honey trap on him. In fact, another reason he had avoided it for so long outside of the fact it had grown less useful to him was precisely because these old bastards had tricked him like they had.
If it was anyone else who had done this to him, Ryu would have probably treated them as enemies for a lifetime. But, since it was his Master and Ryu took his word very seriously, he had been far more lenient. But even then, it had been almost two years since he came to this place.
"Tell me, how'd my big sister taste?" Flora licked her lips, still looking Ryu up and down.
According to their original talk, Eska was supposed to return after calming Ryu down. After all, Eska wasn't supposed to have gained a permanent body back then. The plan was to take control of Sarriel for a little bit and then return her body to her so that Ryu didn't get too mad.
Despite having known Ryu for a very short time, the Zu Ancestors knew how stubborn this kid was. Balaur was very much prepared for Ryu to never talk to him again after this incident, but judging by how Ryu returned but Eska hadn't, it seemed things had gone even better than they thought.
None of them thought for even a moment that Ryu had killed Eska. Even as a mere fragmented soul whose life had been extended far too long, Eska was still a Sky God. Even the Ryu of now couldn't hope to casually deal with her. In fact, it was more likely that she would casually deal with him. It could be considered a nice boon for Isemeine in exchange for allowing Ryu to use and practically abuse her.
Ryu shook his head. These three really had none of the bearing three Sky Gods should have. But, Ryu was still Ryu in the end.
"Great. She's the kind of woman I like the most."
Morvar's lip twitched. But, it only got worse.
"Unfortunately, she was forced by circumstances so it wasn't as pleasurable as it could have been otherwise."
Flora, who had always assumed that Ryu was shy and reserved, was speechless for a moment before she burst into a fit of laughter. She laughed so hard that if she still had a human body, she'd probably be coughing and wheezing by now. She really couldn't hold herself back.
What Flora didn't know was that Ryu was never shy or reserved, he just didn't speak to these Zu Ancestors often because he saw them as enemies previously. What words did he have to exchange with people who had tried to get him killed?
His unwillingness to sleep with Eska had little to do with wanting to protect her dignity as he never really saw her as a friend. Rather, it was because of his own pride. He didn't like the idea of a woman sleeping with him because she had no other choice and most importantly, he hated the idea of him being a slave to his own talent.
Something about his lust ruling him and his bloodlines being so unfettered and unpredictable just didn't sit right with him.
Balaur soon joined her in uproarious laughter. In truth, Balaur had had thoughts on Eska before, but that woman was like a block of ice. Plus, if there was going to be any man who enjoyed her taste other than himself, the fact it was his disciple was the second best odds.
"Little Ryu, you've grown so fast. Half-Step Path Extinction Realm already… I don't even know what to say. With things like this, you have to come back and visit me more frequently. I keep treating you like a normal person, but with your pace you'll need at least some guidance every few months even if you have a Cultus Faerie by your side. After all, your Ailsa still only has the view of a Cosmic Seed Realm expert, even with her talent, her scope is still a bit limited."
Ryu didn't refute his Master's words. Though Ailsa's soul was now the equivalent of the World Sea Realm, his Master's words still applied. In addition, Ailsa was so focused on him that she had yet to bring out her full potential after undoing her seal.
Yet, even while being so distracted, in this last year, Ailsa's Qi Realm cultivation had already broken through from the Dao Pedestal Realm to the Cosmic Seed Realm and she was already blazing a trail toward the World Sea Realm. Though Ryu was used to fast cultivation, and he also knew that once Ailsa was unsealed, 900 million years of lack of progress would come rushing out all at once, he was still astonished by this pace.
Because of this, Ryu felt like Ailsa should focus a bit more on her own improvement for now. She was racking her brain, trying to figure out the problem he was facing with his regressing Inheritances, but maybe this was something Ryu should have just asked his master about instead.
Though Ryu had a feeling his Master was probably one or two levels below the Phoenix Sky God… Any man who could have the title Elemental War Sky God wasn't to be trifled with. It was definitely among the most powerful titles Ryu had ever heard of.
"I do have a lot of questions I want to ask you but first… I thought I should tell you that you all were right, the Ancestral Beasts have returned. In fact, the whole martial world is embroiled in war right now."
The moment Ryu said these words, the Zu Ancestors lost all of their joking airs. In fact, each one of them became as serious as they could be.
When was the first time Ryu had been warned about this day? It wasn't at the hands of the Martial Gods or the Faeries or Ailsa, it was right in this very room. The first time he spoke with the Zu Ancestors they warned of this day coming. In fact, they had heavily implied that the reason they sealed themselves up in this way was to prepare to help their Zu Clan weather the coming storm.
Balaur took a deep breath. "What is the situation?"
"The strongest they've sent out are only of the Eleventh Order and they seem to be holding back on purpose. They said something about letting their younger generation shine to show just how large the disparity between them and we humans are, but I'm not sure if I buy that. They seem to be reserving themselves for something else."
The three Ancestors looked toward one another, seemingly agreeing with Ryu's words but not expanding upon what that could mean.
Balaur sighed. "… What do you think of the Ancestral Beasts, Little Ryu?"
"I think that they are very powerful. Among humans, I feel like there's almost no one who can match me in talent. If a human wants to battle me, they'll have to be at least in the Cosmic Seed Realm now, there's no one near or at my cultivation level that can even begin to match me.
"However, the Ancestral Beasts are different. Their best talents could probably give me a good fight… So long as they're at least a Realm and a half above me. Eh… Actually, make that two Realms."
The lips of the Ancestors twitched. Even in the serious atmosphere, Ryu's words sounded far too ridiculous. But the fact they were actually true was what was really baffling.
Still, this could be considered a high evaluation on Ryu's part. The Ancestral Beasts could actually match up against Ryu an entire Realm lower than what the humans could muster, that alone was enough to paint their talent.
Of course, Ryu didn't mention Sarriel, but he didn't lie either. After all… Sarriel was a Fey.
Something deep inside Ryu rumbled when he thought of that woman… He really wanted to fight her again. This time, he would leave no question about which of them was better. He'd beat her into the ground until she turned back to that shy little girl.
In the end, Balaur beamed. After all, this was his disciple. But, his expression soon became serious once more.
"You are indeed very talented, Little Ryu. But, Existence is much larger than you think… There may even be people out there who snub their noses at your level of talent. If you ever meet them, how would you react?"
Balaur gazed toward Ryu deeply. It was rare that he gave his disciple such an oppressive stare, especially not after they had made their relationship official. But this time, he really wanted to understand Ryu's true thoughts. Beneath his gaze, there was simply no lying, there was no room for false bravado… Everything within Ryu's heart would be laid bare.
But, it was exactly because of this that Ryu's response made the Elemental War Sky God's heart skip a beat.
A wind rustled Ryu's hair and a fiendish grin involuntarily spread across his face, his canines lengthening as though to paint the perfect picture of his bloodlust.
"I hope that you're right." Ryu's grin grew wider. "This world as it is too boring. I can already see the mountain peak… And it isn't high enough.
"These damned skies are too low."