Ryu didn't have much of a reaction to these words. In fact, his expression was so calm that it partially startled the Four Zu Ancestors.
Normally, after hearing such words, there were one of two reactions. The first would be defensive. In this scenario, a person would be greatly offended and attempt to argue for themselves. As for the second, it would be one of fear. After all, these were Ancestors of the Sky God Era. This was the undisputed strongest Era of Humans, only marginally matched by Ryu's Golden Era. How could one not fear these four?
"Don't be so mean to the handsome little brother, Balaur." One of the Empresses reprimanded. "Do you think you have the right to be picky? You're dead."
This Empress' voice sounded immature and childish.. In fact, it gave one an inexplicable feeling of warmth, but such things only forced Ryu to put his guard up. He didn't believe that anyone who could rise to the top of such an Ancient Clan could be as naïve and innocent as she pretended to be.
"If you keep talking in that disgusting voice, Flora, I'll shatter your Incarnation Jade so I never have to listen to you again. I wonder how many men you've lured into your bed only to kill them with that fake sweetness." Balaur responded in disgust.
Flora seemed to make a pouting sound. "We aren't toddlers, Balaur. If you wanted me to invite you to my bed so eagerly, you should just use your words. What is with all of this petty jealously? I am an Empress, why would I hold myself to just one husband? The men of my Era were too weak to satisfy my needs alone. Maybe if you or Brother Morvar was alive in my time, I wouldn't have suffered so."
Hearing such an innocent voice say such words could send a shiver down anyone's spine. Ryu was certain that this woman had blood that could drown the largest oceans on her hands.
"I don't invite whores to my bed, woman." Balaur snorted.
"How sexist of you. You probably lost count of how many concubines you had in your lifetime, but I just wanted a few dozen husbands and suddenly I'm a whore.
"Can you believe this narrowminded meanie, handsome little brother? What do you think? You're a little too weak to be my husband, but I don't mind letting you spend a few nights with an Empress. It would also help your cultivation greatly, what do you say?" Flora's spirit floated out from an Incarnation Jade that hung from her statues neck, gliding down to tease Ryu.
"I have a wife. No thank you." Ryu replied plainly.
Balaur's uproarious laughter filled Zu Library. "I've changed my mind, I like this kid!"
Flora pouted. Her appearance was truly too adorable, nothing like the lofty Empress her words painted herself out to be.
"You've certainly dodged a bullet, kid. Though your Mental Realm talent is trash, you have an Ancestral Great Circle. If you agreed to her ask, not only would you not be able to taste her sweet peach, but you'd have your talent sucked away completely. This woman is too conniving, she pretends to be innocent on one hand, yet has killed more people than I could even dream of. On the other hand, she claims to be a champion in bed, but she is still a virgin.
"What a two-faced woman!"
"Hmph." Flora harrumphed, floating back up and disappearing into her Incarnation Jade.
"Who are you?" Suddenly, a voice Ryu hadn't heard until now spoke. It was the other male. Morvar, Ryu believed Flora called him.
"I am Ryu Tatsuya." Ryu responded.
"You've taken the Clan name of the Ancient Fire Dragon, you have Fire Dragon blood running through your veins, and although you look like us, you have no connection to the Zu Clan at all.
"Though it is true that your talent is excellent even in our Era, you would be useless trash if born in our Zu Clan. We care little for the Body and Qi Realm paths. Giving the resources we Ancestors have worked for to you would be a waste."
"You say all of this, yet you haven't killed me. Get to the point."
Balaur suddenly started laughing again. "I like him, I really like him! He can see through your pile of shit from a mile away, Morvar. There goes your plan to act tough."
Morvar didn't have much of a reaction to Ryu's words. He was a calm and straight forward person. While another individual would have found Ryu's response to be too abrasive, Morvar actually found it to be refreshing. As for Balaur's goading, he never paid much attention to it anyway.
"The reason we haven't killed you yet is because we all recognize the rarity of the Origin Flame, even an Embryonic one like yours. It's not enough to close the gap between yourself and the peak-most geniuses of our Zu Clan, but it is enough to make you average.
"There's a second reason as well, I've sensed your Mysteries of Heaven and Earth Heavenly Pupils. With these eyes, your comprehension abilities will be beyond normal logic. With it, you have an advantage Mental Realm talent cannot match in understanding and implementing Visualization Techniques.
"The combination of these two things make you comparable to an above average talent in our Zu Clan, you would be worthy of being an outer fringe elder once you reach maturity. The problem is that this is not good enough.
"While you can comprehend and implement Visualization Techniques better than almost anyone else, your Mental Realm pool is too small, causing your stamina to be wholly lacking. In addition, your Spiritual Sense is only thirty meters in diameter after awakening. You don't qualify to learn even the weakest of techniques the four of us have access to."
"I don't mind if you give me nothing as long as I can use this Library freely." Ryu responded.
"Oh?" Morvar's brows perked up. Obviously, he hadn't expected such a response.
"I'll take him in first." Another voice Ryu had yet to hear spoke. It was kind and warm, filled with an air of maturity Flora didn't have.
"Eska, you mean to…?" Morvar asked in slight surprise.
"Ha, she's always been a bookworm. Seems the little guy gained her favor." Balaur chuckled.
"I'll teach him my [Immortal Sakura]. His results will inform our final decision." Eska concluded.