My Xianxia Harem Life

Chapter 208: Chapter 208 Exposure

Clara had been enjoying herself immensely.

Ever since she was introduced to this new world of luxurious events, glamorous parties, and high-profile gatherings, she found herself swept up in the thrill of it all.

But the true reason was of course to see Riley.

Almost every day, there was something to attend—whether it was a simple gathering, an event hosted by Riley, or an exclusive private event with only family included.

She embraced it wholeheartedly, delighted by the energy, the lights, and the opportunity to meet Riley all the time. Thea was of course with her always.

At first, Riley had been a regular presence at these events.

With his charm, wealth, power, and reputation, he was always the center of attention, and Clara had enjoyed basking in the glow of his influence.

But over time, his appearances began to dwindle. He became increasingly elusive, no longer showing up as often—until eventually, he stopped attending altogether.

The reasons were unclear, and Clara didn’t bother prying. She was also particularly heartbroken about it which nagged at her heart.

But she did not panic also.

Her brother-in-law, Riley, was different in many ways. He didn’t have any overwhelming presence, but that made him easier to approach.

He was friendly, attentive, and—most importantly—he never dismissed her.

While others might have brushed her off as just another nosy young woman, Riley welcomed her company with genuine warmth.

At one point, he even told her with a soft smile, ”Feel free to reach out anytime. I’m always happy to talk.”

Clara had taken those words to heart.

She came to him often, sometimes just to chat, sometimes to share something amusing she’d seen or heard.

Riley always responded—sometimes quickly, sometimes with thoughtful delays—but never with disinterest.

The two developed an easy rapport, and over time, their conversations grew deeper and more personal.

It was a refreshing change from the superficiality of most social interactions.

To Riley, Clara was a pleasant surprise. He hadn’t expected to enjoy her company so much, but the more they spoke, the more he appreciated her sharp wit and infectious curiosity.

But even beyond that, something else was happening—something greater.

He knew what it was but it was also weird to see it happening to him.

With the growing attention he had been receiving—not just from Clara, but from others too—something within him stirred.

A sudden sensation buzzed in his mind, like a spark igniting a dormant circuit.

”Ding!”

A familiar voice echoed inside his consciousness, one he hadn’t heard in a while.

”Congratulations, host! You have successfully acquired the great attention of the masses. Your charisma has reached a new threshold. Please select one of the three available rewards.”

A glowing interface materialized before his eyes, shimmering with golden light.

Each option pulsed with raw power, waiting for his decision.

1. One Man, a Thousand Parts

A divine technique that enables the user to cut a portion of their body and transform it into countless identical copies of themselves. Each clone can act independently, perfect for infiltration, multitasking, or overwhelming enemies in battle.

2. Ancient Mirror Technique

A divine skill that allows the user to observe anyone—or anything—and create flawless copies. These replicas retain the appearance, behavior, and even aura of the original for a limited time, making them ideal for deception or strategic mimicry.

3. Infinite Soul Clones

A legendary technique that grants the user the power to create unlimited soul-based duplicates and create a body for them. Each clone, however, is progressively weaker—the first clone possesses half the user’s strength, the second half of that, and so on. Still, with careful use, this technique could turn the tide in even the most desperate battles.

Riley’s eyes narrowed as he weighed the options.

The air around him shimmered faintly, charged with possibility.

A new kind of power was within his grasp—and this time, he intended to use it to its fullest. And Riley picked the Infinite Soul Clones easily from the three choices.

This, of course, made everyone around him wonder why he was suddenly appearing everywhere at once.

It wasn’t just one or two people claiming to have seen him—rumors were spreading like wildfire across the clan.

”Senior Riley is here? I thought he was just inside with his wives,” someone whispered in confusion.

”Same here. I literally saw him near the eastern gates earlier, measuring something. Looked like he was setting up a defensive formation,” another added.

”That’s weird... I just passed by him on the main path not five minutes ago. He nodded at me!” someone else exclaimed.

The murmurs grew louder. Confusion turned into awe as more and more people realized what was happening.

Riley wasn’t teleporting, and he wasn’t moving unnaturally fast. No—he was in multiple places at once.

Soon, it became obvious: Riley was using clones.

This was no ordinary feat. Creating even a single stable clone took incredible control over one’s spiritual energy and mental focus.

Few cultivators in the clan had ever managed it, and even fewer dared to try.

The burden on the mind was immense, and controlling multiple clones at once without them collapsing or acting erratically was considered near-impossible.

But Riley? He was operating at a level entirely beyond that.

Ten clones, all acting seamlessly, each performing different tasks across the clan.

Talking, walking, inspecting, measuring, greeting others—each one indistinguishable from the real body. It was as though ten Rileys had been born into the world.

People were in awe. Some were terrified. Others, especially the younger cultivators, were inspired.

Seeing someone capable of such multitasking perfection stirred something deep in their hearts—a mix of admiration and inferiority.

Yet, despite how impressive the display was, Riley himself didn’t seem to care much.

For him, the clones were merely tools—conveniences used to take care of daily chores and obligations that didn’t need his full attention.

He used them to attend meetings, inspect defenses, distribute tasks, and keep up appearances.

Anything that didn’t require his personal touch, he delegated to a clone.

But there were lines even Riley would not cross.

When it came to the most personal, intimate aspects of his life—especially his time with his wives—he would never entrust that to a copy.

Those moments, filled with emotion, passion, and connection, were sacred to him. Only the real Riley would be there, in body and soul.

No matter how perfect his clones were, he believed that some things simply couldn’t be replicated.

So while the clan buzzed with theories and admiration, Riley remained calm.

His true self was always where it mattered most, and his clones?

They were just extensions of his will, handling the trivial, never the meaningful.

And that, perhaps, was what truly set Riley apart—not just his power, but his judgment in how he used it.

Eventually, news of Riley’s peculiar appearances reached Clara as well.

She had heard the whispers, the gasps of awe, the growing legend of the man who seemed to be everywhere at once.

And during one of their swordsmanship lessons—just the two of them under the open sky—she finally found the courage to ask what had been bothering her.

”Are you the real Riley... or just a copy?” Clara asked, her voice soft, almost trembling. She looked at him with lonely eyes, eyes that held too many unsaid things.

Riley paused, lowering his wooden sword and meeting her gaze. ”Of course I’m the real one,” he said smoothly, lying without a hint of guilt.

Clara stared at him intently, trying to see through the illusion.

But with how perfect Riley’s clone technique was, it was easier to find the largest star in the universe than to tell whether the man standing before her was a clone or not.

”Then prove it,” she said boldly, stepping closer. ”Kiss me.”

The words hung in the air like a forbidden spell.

Clara had been tormented by dreams—hot, breathless, shameless dreams in which Riley held her the way no teacher should. She could no longer deny what she felt.

She had fallen in love with her brother-in-law. Technically, it wasn’t as scandalous as it sounded.

She and Veronica only shared a father. They weren’t close, not really.

And Clara had never cared much for social conventions to begin with.

Still, it took everything in her to say it out loud. But today... today she needed to express it.

Riley’s expression turned serious. ”Clara... we shouldn’t do this. You’re young. And you’re my—”

Before he could finish, Clara surged forward and kissed him.

It was sudden. Fierce. Desperate.

And Riley... he was lucky.

Lucky that his divine step technique allowed him to switch places with any of his clones instantly.

Had he hesitated even for a second, the clone would have been the one standing here—an emotionless copy kissing a passionate, vulnerable Clara.

That thought alone made his skin crawl.

The technique didn’t just create clones—it linked their senses. Riley could see, hear, and feel everything his copies experienced.

That connection saved him from a disaster he hadn’t seen coming. In the blink of an eye, he replaced the clone just before Clara’s lips met his.

So, yes—when Clara kissed him, it was the real Riley she kissed.

And now, as the kiss lingered and her body trembled against his, Riley found himself standing at the edge of a dangerous line, one he wasn’t sure he could—or even wanted to—step back from.