Ryu stood in the skies, tall and proud. He didn't seem to have eyes for those around him, instead looking up toward the clouds and expanse of blue above him toward the very location that the Heavenly Path would appear.
For a moment, others were so surprised that they didn't even seem to notice that he was faintly higher in the skies than even the True Sky Gods of the Sentient Sword Sect and Demonic Flame Sect. But even more surprising than that was the fact that he didn't seem to be out of his element at all.
His hair fluttered in the wind, the ends of his headband flying along with it. His robes rippled, and yet somehow still remained wrinkle free. At that moment, he seemed to overshadow even the refined auras of Enren and Theris.
Over the last few years, although Ryu hadn't focused very much on cultivation, what he had done was refined his temperament greatly. He was already a man with an aura few could stand to in the past, but now it felt even more exaggerated than it had been before, so much so that many fell into silence for reasons beyond just the appearance of the Radiant Star Sect.
Enren's sword-like brows furrowed somewhat as his gaze locked onto the great swordstaff Ryu was flying upon. There was a push and pull on his heart that left him a bit stifled. Was that a flying treasure? Or just a sword?
The second great swordstaff that hovered to Ryu's back seemed to make it clear that it was a weapon as they were both identical. However, if it wasn't a flying treasure, didn't that mean that Ryu's sword path was even beyond his own? That was absolutely impossible.
Enren couldn't sense any sword qi coming from Ryu at all. His presence was so restrained, neat and tidy that it didn't leak a single thing. However, when Enren's gaze flashed, his apprehension turned to derision.
What the hell was this? Peak of the Path Extinction Realm? Was this a joke?
Enren was the first to notice and it was far beneath his status to say anything, doing so would only prove that he had been initially bothered by Ryu's showing and display. In situations like this one, he only had to let others make the comments for him, and that he did.
After their initial shock, it wasn't long before many began to notice this abnormality as well. It was simply the nature of cultivators.
When it was put together that this Radiant Star Sect came from the Second Heaven, then the derision only increased. They didn't know how this Sect managed to form a barrier that could block two True Sky Gods, but what they did know was that it was clear their disciples were lacking a great deal.
Even the weakest entering the Heavenly Path this time around was at the Cosmic Seed Realm. While there was no minimum requirement for entry, it was widely accepted that the World Sea Realm was probably the Realm would need to reach to have a good chance at survival. Being at the Cosmic Seed Realm was already enough to earn you some finger pointing.
Yet, Ryu wasn't even in the Divine Vessel Realm yet. This matter that had silenced them at first suddenly felt like a great joke all of a sudden.
The chatter only seemed to increase with each passing second, but there was one group that, once again, didn't say a single word. These were the very people who were well aware of Ryu's combat prowess while he had been at the peak of the Immortal Ring Realm. If he managed to scale up his strength to his current level of improvement… just what kind of monster was he now?
Aantha of the Bewitching Charm Sect, a woman always known for her seductive teasing, had a rare serious expression on her face.
She might not be able to match up to the geniuses Third Heaven, far from it, but what she knew was that when Ryu was at an entire Realm lower than he was now, he was capable of fighting them head to head without being in a losing position. Now that he had improved so much in just a handful of years, wasn't it obvious that he would be a match for those Third Heaven geniuses?
When she had this thought, Aantha wanted to shake her head. These were no normal geniuses, anyone who could stand at the top of the Third Heaven was a Sovereign Class genius. In fact, the likes of Enren and Theris were most likely at least a half-step beyond that or else their titles wouldn't be so undisputed.
By Aantha's side, Fairy Mae wore her usual cold expression, making her stand out from the usually seductive beauties around her.
Just looking at the trio that headed the Sentient Sword Sect and Demonic Flame Sect, they should all be Sovereign Class geniuses. In the Second Heaven, just having one Heaven Class genius was enough to place a Sect or Clan at the top. But here in the Third Heaven, unless you had a Sovereign Class genius, you didn't have the right to speak on many matters…
She too couldn't help but wonder if Ryu was so talented as to bridge such a gap.
At that moment, the disciples of the Radiant Star Sect grit their teeth. With Ryu having taken the first step, much of the pressure had vanished from them, and now that he was being ridiculed, they felt a hint of fury in their hearts as well.
They knew well that Ryu's power level had little to do with his cultivation. They had seen him fight, and it could be said that while he rarely showed up on the battlefield for them, it wasn't because he was fearful, but rather because it posed no challenge to him.
With a stomp, several launched themselves into the air, some bringing out their own personal flying treasures, and others forming wings of starlight that spread out from their backs.
Unfortunately, the flying treasures designed for the First Heaven had no method of working on the Third Heaven. It was almost immediately clear to those that had brought theirs out that they were destined to fall from the sky and embarrass their Sect even further.
An unwillingness bloomed in their hearts, but at that moment, they felt a strong power envelop them all.
Elder Aika, who sat cross legged in the skies without a word, gently enveloped these disciples in her strength, pushing them into the air as though nothing had happened.
The disciples, although they were unsure of what happened, sighed a breath of relief and continued flying into the air, making their way to Ryu's height and respectfully standing to his back.
In truth, the display wasn't very grand. There were a few World Sea Realm experts in their midst, but it paled in comparison to the hundreds that the two behemoth-like Sects had brought. The rest were mostly in the Cosmic Seed Realm with a small minority in the Dao Pedestal Realm.
A disciple that Ryu recognized, PIbin, the formerly 17th ranked Core Disciple, had just barely entered the Cosmic Seed. He was among the few that used his wings to rise into the skies, standing behind Ryu as though it was only natural.
Though the display wasn't powerful, it did tell the people below one very important thing.
No matter how weak the Radiant Star Sect was, a World Sea Realm expert was still a World Sea Realm expert. The fact that they were willing to stand behind a Path Extinction Realm brat spoke volumes and the world couldn't help but fall into another silence.
Ryu, who had been in his own world, looked back. He didn't really expect this, honestly. He had never joined a Sect before, so he didn't know the kind of comradery that could come with it.
During his time with Aika, Samson, Wan and Selheira, he had felt more warmth than he had in a long time, but it never really properly settled in that he was part of a Sect now.
At that moment, another slight cough rang out and Old Wan finally crawled out of the mountain that he had been thrown into, trying to pat the dust away from himself.
"Oh? Not bad." He laughed lightly, shaking the dirt out of his hair.
Old Wan smiled, feeling a bit gratified. The progress of these little ones wasn't too bad after all.
Right then, though, a laugh echoed through the air.
"What the hell is this supposed to be? Comic relief? Where did this clown show of Sect pop out of?"
The sound came from one of the disciples of the Demonic Flame Sect, standing in a small crowd behind the three prominent youths. Unsurprisingly, he was all a World Sea Realm expert, it was just that his shine lost out to these three, causing him to dull somewhat in their presence.
Ryu's gaze slowly turned in that direction.
Maybe in the past, he wouldn't care so much, but since the Radiant Star Sect wanted to support him, their face was also his own, and when it came to his face…
His temper was quite short.
Ryu's grandfather's bow appeared in his hands before anyone could react, a shimmering arrow of blue steel manifested out of nothingness in an instant.
He didn't even seem to take time to aim as his bowstring was already released.
The members of the Demonic Flame Sect were shocked for a moment, not expecting this. Someone actually dared to attack them…?!
However, that surprise quickly turned to sneers, sneers that froze only an instant later.
The arrow that had seemed to be streaking through the air so slowly suddenly vanished.
PCHU!
The words the World Sea Realm expert had been about to speak again froze, a bloody hole appearing between his brows.
Ryu lowered his bow, casually strapping it across his back once more.
At that moment, the skies began to rumble. The Heavenly Path was descending.
BANG!
The head of the World Sea Realm expert exploded.
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