1281 Annoyed
Ryu's expression was a bit weird. His reaction probably wasn't what Selheira might have expected, only because he didn't know the truth behind what was happening now. For all he knew, this was Aika's choice. Truthfully, she did seem like the type. Since she hadn't found a husband until now, picking out several fit with her archetype, at least from what he knew about it.
It wasn't exactly unheard of either. Take the Martial Gods for example, they were an exceptionally powerful Clan and their rules on such things were far more lax than many others. Isemeine's own mother had two daughters from two different men, and they both fought over her just the same.
And if Ryu was correct about the Martial Gods, they were an existence amongst the Martial Powers of the Ninth Heaven, which meant that this was the standard they upheld for themselves even in those highest of echelons.
Of course, there were men like Elena's father who had many wives who didn't have other partners outside of himself, at least not out in the open, anvwav But there would also be those powerful women among them like Isemeines mother who could act as they please and build their own reverse harems.
If even one of the most powerful powers of the True Martial World was like this, who was to say that Aika couldn't be?
Did the idea leave Ryu uncomfortable? Not really.
He hadn't had such thoughts toward Aika although she was exceptionally beautiful. He had met too many beautiful women in his life, if he fell for every one, there wouldn't be enough minutes in the day or days in the year to account for all of them. Although he wouldn't hold himself back from adding to his harem, he wouldn't go out of his way to do so either, and there would likely come a time where he felt that there was enough.
Ryu had never entered the cultivation world with thoughts of having a huge harem. His family life didn't prime him for such a thing. His father only had his mother, his grandfathers only had his grandmothers. If it wasn't for the oddity of his second lifetime and the existence of Ailsa as his Life Partner, he would have been content to only know one woman all his life.
This was to say that this matter didn't leave him very moved and he never even considered the fact that Aika was his own to have or that she even owed him such a thing. Beyond that, the disparity in their cultivation also spoke volumes as well.
Ryu wasn't one to believe he had to be more powerful than his women. In his mind, he would eventually be the strongest there was, so why care about current strength? In fact, whether it was Elena, Ailsa or Eska, they had all been far more powerful than him when he met them, in fact even Isemeine had been as well, if it wasn't for his breakthrough during their battle he would have lost at her hands as well.
Even so, there was something to be said about maintaining the usual boundaries of the cultivation realm.
Like cultivators usually married like cultivators. The idea of a Sky God marrying someone who wasn't even in the World Sea Realm was asinine.
With the cruelty of the world, marrying someone that was beyond yourself was only asking for both parties to suffer, that was simply reality.
Of course, Ryu wasn't one to care about such things at all, no one could possibly believe in him more than himself, but it was still something to consider nonetheless.
This was all to explain that Ryu didn't immediately feel negative emotions when he learned of this, in fact, he quite understood it. Whether it was because this was what Aika wanted, or if it was for a greater purpose, they both made perfect sense.
It had to be remembered that Aika was the only one of both the Fading Star Sect and the Radiant Star Sect to have been the Fading and Radiant halves of the former Dual Radiance Star Sect's Bloodline. As such, her womb was maybe the most valuable thing they had remaining.
If she wanted multiple husbands to maximize her chances of conceiving a child with the same gifts as herself, it was quite understandable. One's Bloodline was about the only thing that could be passed one through birth in the first place, it was important to take advantage of it.
However, these thoughts paused when Ryu saw the unhappiness on Selheira's expression.
"Is there something the matter?"
Selheira looked at Ryu's expression, and seeing his reaction, for whatever reason, she actually seemed to relax and her deadpan visage smoothed out. Her expression became gentler and her arm, which was wrapped around Ryu's, wound tighter to the point that Ryu could even feel the softness of her chest on his upper arm.
Ryu raised an internal eyebrow when he felt this. Although Selheira had been holding onto his arm all the while, he hadn't minded it much. That was because it was quite platonic and benign. It was more akin to an elder sister holding onto her brother's arm, there wasn't much to overthink about it, especially since she still kept a certain distance.
Something like allowing him to feel her chest wasn't something that she would do in the past. She seemed very aware and intentional about it, but still continued to answer his question as though nothing at all had happened.
"I can explain it quite simply to you, although Senior Aika isn't being forced, it's effectively like this.
"There are three legs of the Radiant Star Sect that remained between the Fourth to Sixth Heavens that were called forward. They're led by Old Jiao, Old Xuan and Old Xu. According to the original plan, they were supposed to lay low without any outward facing presence. They would find children from discarded families born with great talent, take them in, and give them the Radiant Bloodline.
"Over time, these hidden factions would grow stronger and stronger, and once Old Wan's plan was complete, they could move forward with a strong base. However, Senior Aika's breakthrough has changed everything because they now have a talent capable of holding down the fort on her own. In the past, Senior Aika was already capable of defending the Sect on her own, which was why so many survived in the first place, but in order to do so she had given up a great amount of her lifespan and vitatlity, resulting in many thinking she would never have the chance to breakthrough.
"This change though was great, because it meant that even if they charged back to the Seventh Heaven now, they would be able to adequately protect themselves."
Ryu's gaze flickered. To think that the breakthrough of just one Aika could give them such confidence.
It had to be remembered that the Sect had enemies on the Eighth Heaven had brought them to the Seventh Heaven in the first place before they split. There was always the chance that such enemies could come back around just in case to make sure that the Sect never rose up again. Entering the Seventh Heaven didn't just mean that they were on the Seventh Heaven, but it also meant that those of the Eight and Ninth Heaven would have a much easier time reaching you.
This realization made Ryu re-evaluate Aika once more.
"Now that these matters are settled, though, those old men are thinking about the future already and they felt that Aika should choose a husband. The problem is that there's no one of Aika's generation that's worthy, and there isn't a single one of the younger generations who can even shine her shoes.
"Asking for this annoyed Aika greatly and she snapped. She rightfully believed that her alone was enough, but the old men began to speak about the future and how although she was enough to hold the fort on the Seventh Heaven, what about their return to the Eighth Heaven? Or what about one day finally reaching the Ninth Heaven as their Ancestors had always wanted before they were divided?
"A single Aika wouldn't be enough for this, they would need at least a half dozen, and how could such a thing be possible if the full Dual Radiance Bloodline never appeared again? Their only hope was for Aika to have children.
"Senior Aika was infuriated by all of this, but the old men said they would allow her to pick whomever she wanted, they weren't forcing her to marry anyone, not that they could.
"Reaching her limits, Senior Aika had a fiery burst of rage and said that if she was going to have to pick a husband, she would just be like all those other Patriarchs and have more than one, and that's how this all started."
Ryu and Selheira looked down toward the carnage in unison.
Ryu's gaze flickered. This situation was definitely more complicated than he had originally thought.
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