"Baole presents a millennium spiritual medicine, the Tianqing Fruit, wishing Ancestor an early promotion to Marquis and King."
Wang Baole's voice wasn't loud, but as soon as he spoke, the entire hall instantly fell silent.
Everyone present turned their gaze toward the box, staring at the sky-blue spiritual fruit within, glowing and emitting a rich medicinal fragrance.
All the cultivators present grew restless. If this weren't the Wang family's territory, and the occasion wasn't the ancestor's birthday banquet, they would have snatched the spiritual fruit without a second thought.
The only thing everyone could do now was to desperately restrain their own greed.
Seated in the place of honor, the Wang family's ancestor looked at the Tianqing Fruit and muttered, "Bao… Baole, is this really a Tianqing Fruit? If I remember correctly, the Tianqing Grass takes five hundred years to grow, five hundred years to bloom, five hundred years to bear fruit, and another five hundred years for the fruit to mature.
A single Tianqing Fruit takes at least two thousand years before it can be harvested. Where… where on earth did you get this?"
Before Wang Baole could explain, Wang Kaixuan suddenly shouted from the crowd, "He stole it! Wang Baole must have stolen it from Wendao Academy. Are you trying to get our Wang family killed?"
Upon hearing this, many people suddenly looked enlightened, and their gazes toward Wang Baole became more intrigued.
Wang Baole ignored Wang Kaixuan and respectfully said, "Ancestor, I obtained this during my training. Please accept it without worry."
Wang Kaixuan kept shouting, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Wang Chongyi couldn't take it any longer. He stepped out from the crowd and scolded, "Baole, it's only been a few years and now you're full of lies? How could you possibly get such a priceless treasure?"
If it had been before, Wang Baole would have been so intimidated by his father-in-law's scolding that he'd shrink like a quail, not daring to say a word.
But this time, Wang Baole met Wang Chongyi's gaze and said directly, "If you can't do it, Father-in-law, how do you know I can't?"
"You…"
Wang Chongyi was left speechless.
Seeing the situation was getting out of control, the Wang family ancestor spoke up, "Baole, I believe you, but is there anyone who can vouch for you?"
Naturally, he didn't really believe Wang Baole could obtain such a treasure during training, but he couldn't say so outright.
Just then, a dignified voice suddenly rang out.
"I wonder if I, Xiao Chen, can vouch for Junior Brother Wang. This is indeed a millennium spiritual medicine he brought out from the Primordial Secret Realm!"
The entire hall fell silent at his words!
Everyone instinctively turned toward the direction of the voice.
Xiao Chen—these days, that name was famous to all.
They saw a young man with sword-like brows and starry eyes, whose every move exuded an air of defiance toward the world's heroes, slowly entering the hall.
He didn't walk fast, but with every step, the pressure he radiated grew stronger. Though his cultivation was only at the Heavenly Origin Realm,
this aura, this imposing might, made even all the Nascent Soul and He Dao cultivators present feel as if facing a formidable enemy.
Only a handful of Nirvana powerhouses could ignore his pressure.
Upon hearing his name, the Wang family ancestor immediately stood up and walked toward Xiao Chen, asking, "Young Master, are you truly the number one prodigy of Wendao Academy?"
Xiao Chen smiled slightly. "Tell me, is there anyone here bold enough to impersonate me, Xiao Chen?!"
As he spoke, his aura reached its peak, and behind him a figure gradually appeared.
It was an elder, silent and wordless, but in just an instant, a terrifying pressure emanated, making it hard for everyone present to breathe.
A Marquis-level powerhouse!
This thought flashed through everyone's minds.
The Wang family ancestor trembled all over, nearly falling to his knees. His face filled with excitement as he said, "Young Master Xiao, please take a seat of honor."
Xiao Chen replied, "Senior, you're too kind. Today is your birthday celebration, and I am a guest. How could I take the seat of honor? Besides, I'm here to congratulate you."
As he spoke, the domineering aura that seemed to look down on everything vanished, and he appeared no different from an ordinary person.
Hiss…
The crowd all gasped inwardly, thinking, This trip to the Wang family was truly worth it.
They had actually witnessed the bearing of the greatest prodigy of this era.
Many people glanced at the Wang family ancestor, envy written across their faces.
At that moment, Wang Baole also spoke up, "Ancestor, please be seated and accept your grandson's birthday gift. Otherwise, senior brother won't be able to present his gift."
Hearing the words "senior brother," the Wang family ancestor's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly remembered something terrifying.
"Baole… Baole, you… you've become a disciple of a half-saint?"
Wang Baole beamed and said, "Ancestor, your eyes are sharp. My master truly is a half-saint."
This sentence struck like a bolt from the blue.
Everyone in the hall was utterly stunned, and those who had entertained thoughts about the spiritual fruit immediately put away their schemes.
A half-saint—an unrivaled expert they would never even dream of in their lifetimes.
The Wang family was about to rise.
But the Wang family members themselves all looked ashen. Outsiders didn't know how the Wang family had treated Wang Baole in the past.
But in their hearts, they knew all too well—Wang Baole's days in the family had been no different from a servant's.
At this moment, Wang Chongyi felt both excited and anxious. He had actually become in-laws with a half-saint! In the future, who in the region could possibly rival the Wang family?
But he didn't notice that behind him, his beloved daughter Wang Yulin and his wife both wore expressions of despair. Especially Madam Wang—she suddenly understood why her daughter had locked herself in her room ever since returning from the Primordial Secret Valley.
It was over. Everything was over. Wang Baole hadn't just come to celebrate a birthday this time.
"Good… very good!"
The Wang family's ancestor repeated "good" twice, suddenly feeling revitalized, his face glowing as he took the box from Wang Baole's hands.
"Baole, your gift pleases me very much. Come, sit at Ancestor's side."
"No rush, Ancestor. Let's wait until senior brother and second senior brother have finished presenting their gifts."
Wang Baole smiled brightly.
"Yes, yes, this old man is getting muddle-headed."
Only then did the Wang family's ancestor return to his seat of honor.
Xiao Chen turned and called outside the hall, "Second junior brother, let's do this together."
"All right!"
A deep voice responded from the courtyard. A burly young man radiating a terrifying aura strode in.
"Cao… Cao Youqian!"
"I didn't expect him to come too. Looks like Wang Baole is doing well at Wendao Academy!"
…
Cao Youqian walked up to Wang Baole, standing at his side opposite Xiao Chen.
He cupped his hands toward the Wang family's ancestor. "Cao Youqian greets Ancestor."
Then he took out a porcelain bottle from his storage ring. Just the appearance of the bottle gave off an extraordinary, exquisite feeling—who knew what treasure was inside?
Cao Youqian opened the bottle and took out a pill. "This is the supreme healing spiritual medicine of Wendao Academy—the Vitality Creation Pill. It can heal any injury below the half-saint level. Please accept it, senior."
Hearing this, the Wang family's ancestor nearly slipped out of his chair.
He had naturally heard of this pill. In Wendao Academy, only Nirvana Realm Marquis-level alchemists could refine it, and now it had appeared in the hands of a mere Heavenly Origin cultivator.
He could only think: extravagant… truly extravagant beyond measure!
Beside him, Xiao Chen also took out a simple, ancient-looking box from his storage ring and gently opened it, revealing a jade slip inside.
"I've heard that the Cangyun Wang family is a renowned clan of sword cultivators. Within this jade slip is the legacy of the Wandering Sword King. It's a humble gift—please accept it, senior."
Bang!
Upon hearing this, the Wang family's ancestor was so shocked his hand accidentally knocked over his teacup, sending it crashing to the floor.
The crisp sound snapped him back to reality.
Suppressing his excitement, he said, "Gentlemen, these gifts are far too precious. This old man can't accept them."
Xiao Chen replied calmly, "Senior, you're being too modest. You can accept these gifts. The reason my junior brothers and I came today isn't only to accompany our fourth junior brother in celebrating your birthday—there's another important matter we wish to discuss with you."
As these words fell, everyone present, including the Wang family's ancestor, couldn't help but feel their hearts clench…
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