My Xianxia Harem Life

"That’s Miss Ruby Raven! She’s the most beautiful woman in the Raven Clan—no, in all of Greenfield City!"

"I agree. Just look at her. No woman here can match her beauty."

"A lot of men have tried to win her heart, but she turns them all down. I don’t know what she’s looking for in a man. If she just chose one of the wealthy suitors throwing themselves at her, she’d never have to worry about anything again."

"Maybe she has high standards. A woman like her probably won’t settle for just any rich man."

"Or maybe she’s waiting for someone special. Someone powerful, not just wealthy."

The murmurs of the crowd swelled as all eyes turned to the stunning woman entering the hall.

Dressed in a flowing black and crimson gown that accentuated her striking features, Ruby Raven moved with effortless grace. Her jet-black hair cascaded down her back, shimmering under the chandelier’s glow, and her piercing crimson eyes held an allure that made it impossible to look away.

Despite arriving alone, she easily commanded the room’s attention.

Conversations hushed as she walked past, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air.

"I’m here, City Lord. What do you want from me?" Ruby said, her voice smooth yet unwavering as she stopped before the main table.

The City Lord wanted to hurl insults at her, but he swallowed his irritation, forcing a smile instead.

No matter how much her presence unsettled him, he couldn’t afford to be openly hostile—especially not in front of so many guests.

"I want you to meet someone," he said, gesturing to the young man beside him. "This is Riley Mason. He’s only twenty-five and already in the Golden Core Realm."

There were murmurs of approval from the surrounding guests. A cultivator reaching the Golden Core Realm at such a young age was no small feat.

Riley’s presence here was a statement—one that hinted at his rising status and potential.

Turning to Riley, the City Lord continued,

"And this is Ruby. She joined the Raven Clan just over a year ago, but she’s already made quite the name for herself. She has an interesting story, but I won’t spoil the details for you." A knowing smile tugged at his lips as he added, "You’ll have to hear it from her yourself."

Then, as if suddenly struck by inspiration, he stood up. "Now, I suddenly have the urge to dance." Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the dance floor, leaving Ruby and Riley alone at the table.

Of course, his abrupt departure wasn’t just about indulging in a dance. It was a calculated move.

He had complete faith in Ruby’s beauty—after all, countless cultivators had sought her hand in marriage, only to be rejected. Not a single one had succeeded in winning her favor.

Though he often worried that one of her spurned admirers might one day lash out in anger, bringing calamity upon his clan, he took comfort in the fact that, so far, none had resorted to drastic measures.

Still, there was always a first time for everything.

Silence settled over the table as Ruby and Riley found themselves staring at one another. Neither spoke, as if waiting for the other to break the ice.

Ruby’s gaze flickered to Riley, then to the four women seated beside him. Each of them was undeniably beautiful, their delicate features accentuated by fine silks and ornate accessories, yet she remained unimpressed.

She had long accepted her own allure—one that had captivated countless men, elevating her to a level few could hope to rival. Maintaining her usual proud demeanor, she met Riley’s gaze with calm indifference.

"Please, have a seat, Miss Ruby. This is my first time seeing you in Greenfield City," Riley said, his voice polite but tinged with curiosity.

She inclined her head slightly before settling into the chair the City Lord had vacated. "Indeed," she replied, her tone distant and detached.

It was always the same. Men seeking her out, attempting to charm her, convinced that they were different from the rest.

Yet none had ever truly interested her. Ruby had long grown weary of their eager advances, of the constant attention her beauty attracted.

She knew that if she engaged too much, it would only encourage them further. So, as she had done countless times before, she resorted to subtle means.

With the grace of someone accustomed to wielding unseen power, she cast a silent technique on Riley—a delicate yet effective spell designed to make men lose interest in her.

It was a trick she had perfected over the years, one that allowed her to slip away from unwanted suitors without conflict.

Ding!

A sharp jolt ran through her mind.

Ruby’s expression barely changed, but inwardly, she was stunned. The spell hadn’t worked.

She glanced at Riley, expecting confusion or hesitation, but instead, she found him smiling—calm, composed, and completely unaffected.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Then, without warning, Riley acted.

His eyes darkened slightly as he activated Mind Palace Master, an advanced mental technique that allowed him to peer into the depths of another’s consciousness.

It was a skill honed to perfection, capable of replicating the memories of those it touched. In that instant, Ruby’s vast sea of experiences poured into him.

And what he saw shook him to his core.

The weight of her memories crashed over him like a tidal wave, immeasurable in depth and scope. It wasn’t mere decades’ worth of knowledge—but millions of years.

Each fragment that surfaced painted a picture of a woman far older, far more experienced, than her youthful appearance suggested.

Ruby had lived through ages long forgotten, witnessed the rise and fall of empires, indulged in pleasures and luxuries beyond imagination.

She had honed her craft in ways that defied human limitations, exploring the world’s deepest mysteries with an intellect sharpened by time itself.

Compared to her, most cultivators were nothing more than children playing at power.

Riley felt his own perspective shifting, expanding.

Secrets of the universe that had once eluded him were now laid bare, delivered effortlessly through the sheer weight of Ruby’s existence.

It was overwhelming, intoxicating. He had never imagined that such an encounter would grant him something so profound.

A strange sense of admiration settled over him. He had gained something invaluable this night—knowledge beyond reckoning.

And for such a gift, it was only right that he gave something in return.

He met Ruby’s gaze, his voice soft but resolute.

"Pure Ocean."

The words carried an unseen power, resonating between them like the first drop of rain before a storm.

"How did you know? Who are you?" Ruby sent a message through her divine sense, her voice calm but laced with curiosity.

She did not panic in the slightest, though she was undeniably surprised.

If she couldn’t read his mind—much less manipulate his thoughts—then he either possessed a rare treasure that shielded his psyche or was simply far stronger than her.

The latter, however, was impossible. This was a lower realm, one that should not have allowed the presence of an Ancient God Realm cultivator like herself.

Yet, the evidence before her suggested otherwise.

"Nothing is impossible, Daoist Pure Ocean. You are an Ancient God Realm powerhouse, and yet here you are."

Riley’s reply, spoken through divine sense, sent a chill through Ruby’s very soul.

For the first time in millions of years, she felt something unfamiliar—unease.

Her expression remained composed, but inwardly, her mind raced. He had read her thoughts as easily as one breathes air, a feat that should have been beyond anyone in this realm.

Just how powerful was he? To what extent did his abilities reach?

In all her vast existence, spanning across eons, she had never been at such a clear disadvantage.

She had always been the one in control, the one with secrets beyond mortal comprehension. But now, she was the one being seen through.

A thousand implications flooded her mind, each more unsettling than the last. But speculation would do her no good.

At this moment, there was only one course of action she could take.

Lowering her head slightly, she sent another message through her divine sense.

"Forgive this junior’s disrespect, Senior. I did not know whom I was addressing."

There was no shame in acknowledging power. She had met countless beings across time—some arrogant, some foolish, some mighty.

Those who failed to recognize a greater force were the first to fall.

Riley’s response was immediate, yet casual.

"A small matter. It is fate that we met. Let us set aside formalities and simply enjoy the event."

With that, he ceased using divine sense and spoke aloud, his demeanor returning to that of an ordinary cultivator enjoying the night.

"So, how do you find the city, Miss Ruby?" Riley asked, his tone light and conversational.

Ruby exhaled softly, adjusting her posture. She had come expecting another dull encounter with an admirer.

Instead, she had stumbled upon an enigma—one that defied everything she knew about this realm.

And so, for the first time in a long while, she found herself truly intrigued.

The night continued, an unspoken understanding settling between them as they conversed beneath the flickering lanterns of Greenfield City.