The news of the Celestial Void Secret Realm spread like wildfire across the Empire of Yamato.
It was not just a rumor; it was a seismic shift in the balance of power. The legacy of the ancient Void Supreme—a being who once touched the threshold of the Emperor Realm—was up for grabs.
From the frozen peaks of the North to the burning deserts of the South, the great powers began to move.
The sky above the Empire became a highway for the elite. Multi-story Voidships crushed the clouds. Chariots drawn by ancient spirit beasts thundered through the air. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of ozone and ambition.
The Ancestral Dragon Nest made its move. A massive Blue Scaled Dragon tore through the sky, carrying a woman in azure armor. Ryuu Bichi, the Dragon Maiden, stood on the dragon's head, her arms crossed, her eyes burning with the pride of the Ancient Dragon Emperor's lineage.
The Fujiwara Clan, an ancient family of the East, deployed a golden chariot. Inside sat Fujiwara Gen, known as the "Little Saint." His right arm was wrapped in bandages, but beneath the cloth, a blinding divine light pulsed—the Hand of the Gods.
The Primeval Beast Clans also emerged. A Nine-Headed Golden Lion, a species so rare it was considered royalty among beasts, strode across the void, its roar shaking the mountains. Following it was the Swallow-Sky Sparrow, a bird of pure darkness that left a trail of devoured Mana in its wake.
The stage was set. The actors were assembled. But everyone knew that the lead role belonged to only one faction.
The Departure and The Resonance
Ryuzaki Domain.
The morning of the departure was crisp and clear.
Ryuzaki Haruto stood at the main gate of the Floating Islands. He wore a pristine white robe embroidered with golden cloud patterns, his hair tied back with a simple jade ribbon. He looked less like a warrior and more like a scholar, or perhaps a god taking a leisurely stroll.
"Haruto," Ryuzaki Kenshin approached, his face serious. He handed Haruto two items.
"This is a Void Talisman refined by the Eighteenth Ancestor. It can block a full-power strike from a Saint. And this is a Great Teleportation Charm. If you encounter an old monster who has no shame and tries to kill you, use this."
"If anyone above the younger generation dares to touch you," Kenshin's eyes flashed with a terrifying coldness, "the Ryuzaki Clan will wash their sect in blood."
"Thank you, Grandpa," Haruto took the items, smiling faintly. "But I doubt I'll need them. If someone of my generation can force me to flee... then I don't deserve to carry the name Ryuzaki."
Kenshin laughed, patting his shoulder. "That's the spirit."
Just then, a commotion arose from the western sky.
A fleet of elegant, blue-and-white Voidships approached. They bore the crest of the Minamoto Clan.
Haruto's heart skipped a beat.
Thump.
The Ancient Sacred Body within him reacted instantly. The golden blood in his veins began to hum, vibrating at a frequency that made his skin tingle.
"They are here," Haruto whispered.
The Minamoto flagship lowered, and a delegation walked out to join the Ryuzaki convoy. Leading them was Minamoto Sayaka.
She was dressed in a flowing blue dress that shimmered like water. Her presence was serene, like a calm lake, but as she stepped closer to Haruto, the air between them began to distort.
Vwoom.
The ambient Mana in the plaza suddenly spiked. Flowers in the nearby gardens bloomed instantly. The wind stopped blowing, as if nature itself was holding its breath.
Sayaka stopped ten paces away. Her face flushed slightly, her hand going to her chest where her Congenital Dao Embryo was trembling excitedly.
"Divine Son Ryuzaki," Sayaka bowed slightly, her voice steady but breathless. "It seems we will be traveling together."
"It seems so, Lady Minamoto," Haruto replied.
He took a step forward.
The resonance intensified. A faint, golden-azure mist began to swirl around their feet. It felt incredibly comfortable—like finding a missing piece of one's soul.
"This sensation..." Sayaka murmured, her eyes wide with confusion and curiosity. "Why does my cultivation base rise just by standing near you?"
"Perhaps we are fated," Haruto said, half-joking, half-testing.
Sayaka looked away, her ears turning red. "Do not tease me, Divine Son. Let us focus on the mission."
Haruto chuckled. "Of course."
He turned to the massive carriage waiting for him.
It was a palace on wheels, pulled by Nine White Jade Dragon Horses. These beasts were descendants of the True Dragons, capable of walking on clouds. Owning one was a sign of supreme status. Using nine to pull a carriage was a display of arrogance that only the Ryuzaki Clan could afford.
"Get in," Haruto gestured to Sayaka.
"Me?" Sayaka blinked. "I have my own ship."
"The resonance," Haruto said simply, pointing to the glowing mist around them. "If we separate, the phenomenon stops. I want to study it. Besides... it boosts my cultivation speed. Don't you want the same?"
Sayaka hesitated. Traveling in the same carriage as a man was improper. But the pull of the Dao Embryo was irresistible. It wanted to be near him.
"Fine," Sayaka sighed, trying to maintain her composure. "Strictly for cultivation purposes."
They entered the carriage. Reika, the maid, followed them, giving Sayaka a suspicious look. Ryuzaki Kenji and Ryuzaki Yukino took their positions as guards on the flank.
"Wait," Haruto paused. "Where is Ryuzaki Raijin?"
Kenji stepped forward, looking awkward. "The Sequence Five... he left yesterday. He took his followers and said he didn't want to smell your exhaust fumes."
"Heh," Haruto smirked. "Rebellious little brother. Let him go. If he survives, good. If he courts death... I won't save him."
"Depart!"
With a crack of a whip, the nine dragon horses roared. The massive Ryuzaki fleet, flanked by the Minamoto ships, rose into the air and thundered toward the Southern Province.
The View from the Mud
The Southern Province Roads.
While the young masters of the great clans flew in luxury, others walked.
Prince Seiryu (Xiao Chen) trudged along a dusty road, his hood pulled low. Beside him walked Princess Kaguya (Wu Mingyue), who had also disguised herself in simple traveler's robes.
Seiryu looked up at the sky. Far above, he saw the golden streaks of the great Voidships passing by.
"Look at them," Seiryu spat, his voice filled with bitterness. "Flying above us like gods. They don't know the struggle of the common man."
"Seiryu," Kaguya said gently. "Strength comes from the heart, not the carriage."
"I know," Seiryu clenched his fists. "But I need that Ancient Dragon Bone. The Dragon Master needs it to reshape his body. And I need it to complete the [Azure Dragon Transformation]. Once I have it... I will fly higher than all of them."
He looked at Kaguya. "And I will give you the life you deserve."
Kaguya smiled behind her veil. She didn't care about luxury. She only cared about his determination.
'I will protect you, Seiryu,' she thought. 'Even if I have to reveal my identity.'
The Welcome at Southern Sky City
Southern Sky City (Nanten-shi).
This was the largest city in the Southern Province, and the closest hub to the Secret Realm entrance. Today, the city was bursting at the seams.
Cultivators from every corner of the Empire had gathered. The streets were a chaotic mix of humans, beast-kin, and demons.
Suddenly, a hush fell over the city square.
A group of elders wearing green Taoist robes descended from the sky. They radiated powerful auras, silencing the rowdy crowd.
"That's... the Way of the Void Sect!"
"Look! That old man in the lead... isn't that the Grand Elder? His status is higher than the Sect Master!"
"Why are they waiting at the city gate? Who are they welcoming?"
The crowd buzzed with speculation. The Way of the Void was the local overlord of the Southern Province. For their Grand Elder to wait outside like a servant... the guest had to be terrifying.
"Could it be the Imperial Prince?" "Maybe the Fujiwara Clan?"
Just then, the sky darkened.
RUMBLE.
A pressure descended from the heavens, heavy enough to make mortals kneel.
From the northern horizon, a fleet appeared. It was massive, blocking out the sun. At the forefront was a golden banner that fluttered in the wind, bearing a single, bold character:
[RYUZAKI]
"Holy crap! It's the Ancient Tyrants!" "The Ryuzaki Clan has arrived! No wonder the Void Sect is bowing!"
The fleet descended slowly. The centerpiece was the magnificent carriage pulled by the nine White Jade Dragon Horses. The beasts roared, their cries echoing like thunder.
Next to the carriage, the blue ships of the Minamoto Clan landed in formation.
"The Ryuzaki and the Minamoto... together?" "Are the two Supreme Clans allying?"
The door of the Dragon Carriage opened.
First, a maid stepped out—Reika. Even a maid of the Ryuzaki Clan had the beauty to topple cities.
Then, a young man stepped out.
He was dressed in white, his hair flowing like ink. His skin glowed with a faint, divine luster. His eyes held the indifference of a god looking at ants.
Ryuzaki Haruto.
But what shocked the crowd more was who stepped out next to him.
A woman in blue, radiating a sacred, scholarly aura. Minamoto Sayaka.
As they stood side by side on the carriage platform, the resonance flared again. A faint vision of a Golden Dragon and a Blue Phoenix seemed to dance in the air above them for a split second.
"That... is the Divine Son?" "He really looks like a Banished Immortal." "And the Daoist Goddess of the Minamoto Clan... they look like a match made in heaven."
The Grand Elder of the Void Sect hurried forward, bowing deeply.
"The Way of the Void welcomes the Divine Son! We have prepared the best accommodations in the city. Please, grace us with your presence."
Haruto nodded slightly, acknowledging the greeting. He glanced at the awestruck crowd, his gaze sweeping over them without interest.
"Let's go," Haruto said to Sayaka. "The Secret Realm opens tomorrow. Tonight, we continue our... study."
Sayaka blushed furiously but followed him.
Far in the back of the crowd, disguised in a hood, Prince Seiryu watched this scene. His eyes were bloodshot with jealousy and hatred.
"Ryuzaki Haruto..." Seiryu hissed. "Enjoy your glory while you can. In the Secret Realm... the Dragon will devour the God."