My Xianxia Harem Life

Chapter 207: Chapter 207 Grind

Clara and Thea glanced around the grand inner compound of the Austere Clan, their eyes scanning the neat rows of ancient pavilions and cultivated gardens. They didn’t have to look long.

Standing at a distance, statuesque and poised, was Veronica.

Before either of them could react, several clan servants, dressed in the signature black and silver robes of the Austere Clan, approached with crisp bows. Their demeanor was cold and formal, yet efficient, reflecting the discipline the clan was known for.

”This way, honored guests,” one of them said, gesturing toward a winding stone path.

Clara and Thea exchanged a glance before following silently. The atmosphere grew heavier with each step, not just from the imposing architecture, but from a tangible weight in the air—an invisible force pressing gently against their shoulders.

As they entered a wide courtyard enclosed by tall, ancient walls, the sensation grew so intense that Thea stumbled slightly. A gasp escaped her lips.

”Ahhh...” she whispered, instinctively clutching her chest. ”What is this pressure?”

Clara’s brows drew together as she steadied her friend. ”It’s spiritual pressure,” she murmured. ”It’s powerful... overwhelming even.”

They didn’t need to guess whose it was.

At the center of the courtyard stood Veronica, calm and unmoving, as though she had been waiting for them all along. Her presence was like a blade sheathed in silk—graceful yet impossibly dangerous. The oppressive pressure that filled the space came from her alone.

She looked unchanged, yet entirely different. Time and cultivation had transformed her. Her eyes, once sharp with youthful ambition, now carried the serene depth of someone who had seen the peak of mountains others could only dream of climbing.

Veronica was already in the Spirit Severing Realm—and not just anywhere within it. She had reached the very peak. One more step, and she would ascend to the highest cultivation realm in this world, entering a realm where legends were born.

”Clara?” Veronica’s voice broke the silence, warm and familiar despite her intimidating aura. A soft smile touched her lips as her gaze settled on the younger girl. ”It’s good to see you again. And this is...?”

Clara smiled nervously. ”This is Thea Glade, my best friend,” she said, placing a gentle hand on Thea’s arm.

Veronica’s eyes turned to Thea, her expression softening further. ”Oh? I’m happy to meet you, Thea. Thank you for staying by Clara’s side. It means a lot to me.”

She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small item—a simple-looking amulet strung on a cord of dark silk. At first glance, it seemed plain, almost forgettable.

But the moment it left her hand and hovered toward Thea, the entire courtyard trembled with silent energy.

”Please accept this as a token of our first meeting,” Veronica said gently. ”Consider it a gift—for being my sister’s friend.”

Both Clara and Thea instinctively stepped back, eyes wide as they felt the artifact’s raw power wash over them like a crashing wave.

Though the amulet looked ordinary, its spiritual signature throbbed with immense, condensed energy. It pulsed like a heartbeat, resonating with the world around it.

”That’s...” Clara whispered, unable to complete her sentence.

Thea’s mouth parted in awe. ”It’s... not simple at all.”

Indeed, the amulet carried the aura of a high-tier spiritual treasure—something most cultivators could only dream of laying their hands on. It was not something that should be casually given away, especially not to someone at their level.

But Veronica smiled as though she had merely offered them a flower. Ross had claimed a vast trove of treasures from the Austere Clan in recent years, and as always, he was generous with his wives. She had more than she could ever use. Sharing was second nature to her.

”I hope it serves you well,” Veronica said, turning her gaze back to Clara. ”We have much to talk about.”

***

”Oh my god, Clara! This is amazing!” Thea’s voice rang out with unfiltered joy as she practically bounced on her heels, spinning around to admire the bracelet gleaming on her wrist.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as the last rays of sunlight caught the subtle glimmer in the metal.

Clara couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s enthusiasm. The bracelet looked deceptively simple, like a piece of jewelry one might pick up from a street vendor. But both of them knew better.

It was no ordinary ornament.

Thea continued to marvel over it, fiddling with the clasp and turning it under the light. ”I still can’t believe this used to be that amulet. I mean—look at it! It actually shifted form! Do you know how rare this kind of craftsmanship is?”

Clara nodded, equally impressed. ”It’s not just the appearance,” she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ”The thing can block up to three full-strength attacks from a mid-stage Void Tribulation cultivator—and still have power left to teleport you thousands of miles away. It’s... insane.”

”Insane? It’s a dream!” Thea laughed, still in awe. ”I swear, if I’d been given something like this back in my sect, the elders would have fought over it like wild dogs.”

Clara chuckled, sitting back in her seat as they lounged on a cushioned bench in a secluded courtyard garden.

The night had fallen completely now, bringing with it the serene beauty of the Austere Clan’s estate.

Spirit lanterns floated gently in the air, casting a soft bluish glow over the stone walkways and manicured shrubs.

The scent of plum blossoms mingled with the sweet aroma of the tea served beside them, and distant sounds of string music drifted from somewhere deeper within the compound.

A servant stood a respectful distance away, silent and watchful. He looked no older than thirty, yet the immense spiritual pressure he gave off marked him as a Spirit Severing realm expert—someone who, in any ordinary sect, would be treated like a revered elder.

But here, in the home of Riley and Veronica, he was merely a servant assigned to protect and attend to two young women.

”Honestly,” Thea continued with a content sigh, ”I still can’t believe your sister is that powerful. She didn’t even seem to be trying, but her presence alone felt like it could crush me into the ground. And she’s still not even at the final realm yet?”

Clara shook her head. ”Not yet. But she’s right at the peak of the Spirit Severing Realm. It’s only a matter of time. Just one more step...”

”And she gave us these?” Thea lifted her wrist again, awe returning to her expression. ”It’s crazy. I feel like I should bow to her every time I see her.”

”She’s my sister, not some celestial fairy,” Clara said, laughing.

”She acts like one.”

Thea leaned in, lowering her voice. ”And let’s not forget who she’s married to.”

Clara arched a brow knowingly. ”Riley.”

Thea’s eyes lit up with curiosity. ”I’ve only heard stories, but people say he’s terrifying. Some claim he destroyed an entire enemy sect in a single night. Others whisper that he cultivates some forbidden technique that lets him devour souls. You’ve actually seen him, Clara. So—what’s the truth?”

Clara took a slow sip of her tea, trying to mask the sudden warmth that crept up her neck.

”I heard there’s another feast tonight,” Thea continued, almost breathless with anticipation. ”Let’s go, okay? I have to see him with my own eyes. I want to know if he’s really as mysterious and dangerous as they say—or if all those stories are just exaggerated nonsense.”

Clara hesitated for a moment, then gave a small, almost reluctant nod. ”Fine. Let’s go.”

But even as the words left her mouth, her thoughts were no longer on Thea or the feast. Instead, an image flashed across her mind—vivid and uninvited.

Riley.

His dark, smoldering eyes, the low timbre of his voice, the raw strength in his presence.

And—something else. Something she shouldn’t be thinking about. Not here. Not now.

The image came anyway. Riley, bare-chested and confident. The outline of his— big fat cock, strong and virile.

Clara blinked and shook her head quickly, her cheeks burning.

”Too hot?” Thea asked with a teasing smile. ”You look a little flushed.”

Clara looked away, hoping her expression wasn’t betraying her thoughts. ”Just the tea,” she murmured.

Thea giggled. ”Sure. Just the tea. You’re such a terrible liar, Clara.”

Clara tried to compose herself, but the heat in her belly refused to fade. Thea was right about one thing—Riley was more than just mysterious. There was something about him that went beyond power or prestige.

Something dangerous.

Something forbidden.

And Clara wasn’t sure if she wanted to run from it—or be consumed by it.

***

The two girls did indeed attend the feast that evening, and it didn’t take long for them to be noticed.

Clara’s striking resemblance to Veronica made her easy to spot, and Thea’s vibrant energy drew curious glances as well.

Members of the extended family—clan elders, cousins, and half-siblings alike—were already gathered, and as soon as Clara was recognized, a servant quickly ushered the pair toward the main table.

Clara’s father was present, seated at the head of the table with the authority of a patriarch. Around him sat many of Clara’s siblings, born from different mothers but bound by blood and clan.

The atmosphere was lively, filled with the murmur of conversation, the clink of porcelain, and the soft strains of music played by spirit musicians in the corner of the grand banquet hall.

And then they saw him.

Riley.

He sat near the center of the long banquet table, a subtle but undeniable focal point. Despite the opulence surrounding him, it was his presence that drew all eyes.

Composed and effortlessly poised, he carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone used to command.

His smile was gentle, yet disarming—charming without effort, like it had been carved into his expression by nature itself.

He spoke with those seated nearby, occasionally lifting his cup to drink, his laughter rich and smooth. There was nothing forced about him.

Every gesture was natural, every glance deliberate but unthreatening.

And yet, despite his easy demeanor, there was a gravity to him—something just beneath the surface that made people cautious, curious, and captivated all at once.

Thea leaned in close to Clara, her voice barely above a whisper. ”That’s him? That’s your brother-in-law?”

Clara nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on Riley.

And she couldn’t deny it.

Even in a room filled with powerful cultivators, clan heads, and elite guests, Riley shone like a star no one could look away from.