My Xianxia Harem Life

"I'm gonna collect tonight," Riley said with a wide grin, his tone as casual as if he were talking about picking fruit from a tree.

The others stared at him in stunned silence.

To them, he looked less like a cultivator and more like a myth made flesh—a monster cloaked in human skin.

In this realm, everyone had been stripped of their cultivation bases, forbidden from using any secret techniques.

Even their spiritual senses were dulled, reduced to that of mortals.

And yet Riley had carved through a beast that should've been impossible to kill—let alone kill alone.

"How…?" someone whispered, though no one dared voice it louder.

The blood-soaked ground where the giant serpent had fallen was still warm.

Its massive body lay coiled in death, its scales glinting like molten silver in the shifting light of the realm.

"Is that all you ever think about?" Diana asked softly, stepping up beside him.

Her voice wasn't scolding—just tired, like someone who had long accepted that Riley would always be this way.

"Not always," Riley said, eyes still fixed on the glittering pile of treasures the snake had been guarding.

"But I must admit… it's an incredibly thrilling prospect." He chuckled under his breath, the sound low and satisfied.

"After all, who doesn't like a reward after a hard day's work?"

Diana exhaled, shaking her head in reluctant amusement. He was impossible.

But then again, maybe that's why she stuck with him—because Riley did the impossible.

Again and again.

Without waiting for the others, Diana strode forward, her posture radiating calm authority.

The treasure trove shimmered ahead, gold and artifacts piled atop relics from a forgotten age.

There were weapons humming with dormant power, jade slips containing forbidden knowledge, and glowing stones that pulsed faintly with divine light.

No one moved to stop her. Not a single person even looked her way.

All eyes were still fixed on Riley—on the boy who shouldn't be breathing, let alone smiling, after surviving a fight like that.

None of them had seen exactly how he'd done it.

The battle had been a blur of motion and blood, and before they could comprehend it, the snake was dead.

And Riley stood, not even panting.

Not even wounded.

Whatever method he used, it defied logic—defied the very rules of the realm itself.

And that made him terrifying.

Diana reached the treasure trove and began to sift through it, her fingers dancing across priceless artifacts as if they were baubles.

"Well?" she called back.

"Are you going to stand there grinning all night, or are you going to help me sort through this?"

"I'll be right there," Riley said, still smirking. He turned to the crowd and gave a mock bow.

"Don't worry, everyone. We'll leave some scraps for the rest of you."

No one laughed.

And Riley didn't expect them to.

The two of them stepped into the cave, and their eyes widened in awe at the sight before them.

Glittering piles of treasure stretched out in every direction—spirit stones, enchanted weapons, rare herbs, and artifacts pulsing faintly with power.

It was overwhelming.

The entire cavern was stacked from floor to ceiling with riches that could set up an entire sect for generations.

"It's too much," Diana said, stunned. "How are we supposed to take all of this out?"

There was only one known exit from the secret realm, and using it to ferry the treasure out would be tedious beyond belief.

Even working nonstop, it might take a hundred trips to move everything.

"Leave it to me," Riley said smoothly, but then added with a grin,

"Just know—it's going to cost you double."

He didn't move, merely stood there, waiting for her answer.

It was clear he wouldn't lift a finger until she agreed to his terms.

Diana clicked her tongue, pretending to be annoyed.

"Fine," she said, almost spitting the word. But her body betrayed her true thoughts—already tingling with anticipation.

The promise of being taken hard and thoroughly later stirred something hot and shameless inside her.

"Perfect," Riley murmured with a wolfish smile. Without another word, he moved to the treasure pile.

He touched a single item, and his form blurred, shifting like a mirage.

The item disappeared in an instant. Then another. And another.

In moments, he was weaving through the stacks, vanishing each piece of treasure with supernatural speed.

To any outsider, it would have looked like magic—like the cave was being swallowed whole.

One by one, every relic, weapon, and stone was removed from the cave.

In less than a minute, the place was stripped bare.

All of it—every last item—was now safely transported to the outside world, stored away in a place only Riley had access to.

When it was over, Riley dusted off his hands and turned to her, eyes glinting with mischief.

"Now," he said, stepping closer, "about that payment…"

"Later. It's still too early for that," Diana replied coolly, then turned and walked out of the cave.

Riley followed her out, his expression unreadable beneath the mask.

Outside, the waiting cultivators breathed a collective sigh of relief.

True to his word, Riley had left behind a few scraps—just enough to avoid inciting a riot.

It wasn't much, but in this realm, even leftovers from a trove like that were worth fighting over.

Diana and Riley moved on, continuing their search for more hidden treasures scattered across the secret realm.

And time and again, it was Riley who made the impossible easy.

With him around, barriers were broken, traps disarmed, and guardians slain—often before Diana even had to lift a finger.

When night fell, the couple set up camp in a quiet clearing beneath the stars.

They cooked together in comfortable silence, a small fire crackling between them.

Though they were aware of the quiet footsteps in the shadows—cultivators trying to track them—none dared to approach.

They didn't know who Riley was, thanks to the mask he always wore.

But they did recognize the woman beside him. The Maiden of Milfwood.

Even if they had numbers on their side here in this weakened realm, they knew the truth.

Once they returned to the outside world, Diana could wipe them out with a flick of her wrist.

She was already at the peak of the Void Tribulation Realm—an untouchable force on the brink of ascension.

No one wanted to risk offending her.

So they watched. They followed. But none dared to make a move.

Not yet.

Riley didn't spare a glance at the shadowy figures lingering in the trees, and Diana was no different.

The two of them carried on as if they were alone in the realm—cooking, eating, and conversing beneath the stars.

The fire crackled gently between them, casting long shadows on the forest floor.

But the others continued to watch.

They stayed hidden, silent, and patient, observing the couple from afar.

No one dared to approach, but none were willing to leave either.

Curiosity kept them rooted in place. Who was this masked man?

And what exactly was his relationship with the Maiden of Milfwood?

Time stretched on, and still Riley remained unbothered.

Eventually, he stood and began setting up a tent, working with a casual ease that made it clear this wasn't his first time preparing for the night outdoors.

He knew they were being watched.

He could sense every pair of eyes in the dark, each one trying to glean something more about him.

And that was exactly why he put up the tent.

Because what he planned to do with Diana wasn't meant for an audience.

The fabric of the tent rustled softly as he secured it in place, and once it was done, he stepped back and admired his work.

It wasn't much in the grand scheme of things—just a thin layer of canvas between them and the rest of the world—but it was enough.

Enough to give the illusion of privacy. Enough to muffle the sounds that would come.

Because Riley knew Diana. Knew how she would respond to him.

Knew the way her breath would catch and her body would shudder.

He knew that once he started, she'd be moaning his name—again and again, loud enough to stir even the silent forest.

And once the night truly began, not even the tent would be able to silence her completely.

But that was fine.

Let them listen.

"He's here," Diana whispered, swallowing hard as a tremble of anticipation ran down her spine.

Desire curled within her, deep and unrelenting, but this time it was different.

There was no aphrodisiac coursing through her veins—no artificial heat clouding her judgment or pushing her forward.

She wasn't drugged or overwhelmed.

She was clear-headed, fully aware... and yet, more nervous than ever.

This time, it was all her.

She wasn't being forced to feel sexy or needy or wild.

She wasn't under the influence of anything but her own longing.

And that made everything feel sharper—more intimate.

She found herself wondering if it would feel different.

Would it still burn the same way?

Would he still unravel her with just a touch?

Zip.

Riley closed the tent behind him, sealing them inside.

Diana's breath caught as their eyes met in the dim light.

She wouldn't have to wonder much longer.