Chapter 22: Giving Gifts

When these three voices rang out, the entire venue erupted into a frenzy.

"What! The heads of the three great families are all here?"

"So these are the people from the three great families; they truly carry an extraordinary air!"

"Indeed. They must have come to the Wangyue Sect because someone here triggered the celestial phenomenon last night!"

"Yes, that must be it!"

"It seems heaven is blessing the Wangyue Sect. The sect is about to rise to greatness!"

Inside the grand hall, representatives from various factions were abuzz with speculation.

Seeing this, Yu Tianba, who sat at the head of the hall, quickly descended from his seat, accompanied by the Sect Master, Yu Xiong, to warmly welcome the guests from the three great families.

Yu Tianba stepped forward and said, "Oh my, Patriarch Su, Patriarch Lu, and Patriarch Chen, I never expected the three of you to grace our humble Wangyue Sect today. Please forgive my lack of a proper welcome!"

Lu Tianhong, the head of the Lu family, spoke first: "Ancestor Yu, may you shine as brightly as the sun and moon, and may you be blessed with longevity and health!"

"Many thanks, many thanks!" Yu Tianba replied with a warm, beaming smile. "Thank you indeed. Your presence, Patriarch Lu, truly brings great honor to our Wangyue Sect!"

After the customary pleasantries, Yu Tianba invited the members of the three families to take their seats.

Once they were settled, Su Xiaonuan turned to Su Jingya and asked, "Sister, didn't Big Brother say he would attend this birthday banquet too? Why can't we see him now that we've arrived?"

Su Jingya smiled faintly. "He must not have arrived yet. You will see him shortly."

"Oh." Su Xiaonuan’s face filled with anticipation; she was particularly fond of seeing Qin Xingchen.

At that moment, Su Zhengyang looked at Su Jingya and asked, "Jingya, is this Young Master Qin really a second-grade alchemist?"

Su Jingya nodded. "Father, rest assured, Young Master Qin is indeed a second-grade alchemist. He was personally verified by my master yesterday; there can be no mistake!"

Su Zhengyang said, half-doubting, "Regardless of whether it is true or not, he saved Xiaonuan twice these past two days—I must personally pay him a visit to express my gratitude!"

On the other side, Chen Mingyuan, the head of the Chen family, asked Chen Lixue, "Lixue, what do you think of this Young Master Qin?"

Chen Lixue’s face flushed, and she stammered, "Father... why do you ask?"

Chen Mingyuan laughed. "Hearing you speak so highly of the young man last night, I couldn't help but become curious. What kind of youth is he, to not only be a skilled alchemist but also to capture my precious daughter's heart? It makes me all the more intrigued!"

"Fa... Father..." Chen Lixue’s face turned even more shy.

Lu Tianhong, the head of the Lu family, looked at his son, Lu Zitian, and said, "Since this Young Master Qin is a second-grade alchemist, no matter what it takes, you must find a way to recruit him into our Lu family. Even if it costs us dearly!"

"Yes, Father!" Lu Zitian replied. The weight of an alchemist was immense and highly sought after, but their Lu family was determined to secure this second-grade alchemist, Qin Xingchen.

Just then, the announcements from outside the hall continued.

"Inner sect disciple of the Tiancang Sect, Luo Tianlong, has arrived!"

Hearing this, the eyes of the crowd turned toward the entrance. A young man dressed in white cloud-patterned robes walked in slowly. This man was Luo Tianlong, followed by two middle-aged men in black robes.

The crowd began to whisper again.

"What, even Luo Tianlong is here!"

"He was once the greatest genius of the Wangyue Sect! Later, because his talent was too outstanding, he was discovered by an elder of the Tiancang Sect and taken as a disciple. Because of his presence in the Tiancang Sect, our small second-rate Wangyue Sect has enjoyed the protection of the Tiancang Sect! It’s truly enviable!"

"Tianlong!"
"Big brother!"

Upon seeing him, Luo Changgu and his son, Luo Shan, hurried over to greet him. Luo Tianlong was Luo Shan’s older brother and the former top genius of the Wangyue Sect. After joining the Tiancang Sect, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds; few present could even gauge his current cultivation level.

Luo Tianlong bowed to Luo Changgu. "Father! I have returned to see you!"

"Good, it is good that you are back!" Luo Changgu nodded with gratification.

Luo Tianlong looked at Luo Shan. "Xiaoshan, Father mentioned in his letter last night that you were the one who triggered the celestial phenomenon?"

"Yes, Big Brother!" Luo Shan said with confidence and pride.

Luo Tianlong nodded slightly. "Very good. To trigger a celestial phenomenon means your future achievements will be limitless. I have already informed my sect about you; they attach great importance to this, which is why they sent me to see for myself. After the ancestor's birthday banquet concludes today, you will come with me to the Tiancang Sect!"

Luo Shan was overjoyed. "Yes, Big Brother!"

Although becoming a disciple of the Wangyue Sect’s ancestor seemed decent, joining the Tiancang Sect would be far better. It was one of the two most powerful sects in the Tianhe Dynasty, teeming with experts and deep foundations—far beyond what a second-rate sect like the Wangyue Sect could compare to.

Just then, the announcements continued.

"Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Chen Tianhua, has arrived!"

Chen Tianhua’s arrival also drew significant attention. Clad in green robes, holding a folding fan, and possessing handsome features, he carried himself with an air of noble elegance.

Seeing Chen Tianhua appear, Yu Shanshan, who sat in the hall, grew somewhat nervous. Rumor had it that this man had declared in public on many occasions that he would marry no one but her.

She thought to herself, "As expected, only a man like this is worthy of me, Yu Shanshan. Even if my father tried to force me to marry Qin Xingchen, my refusal and resistance were correct. I, Yu Shanshan, was born to marry a powerful and extraordinary man like him!"

At that moment, Chen Tianhua’s gaze fell upon Yu Shanshan, who sat not far away. Their eyes met. He was calm and dashing; she blushed, unable to utter a word.

Chen Tianhua walked toward her, a joyful smile on his face. "Miss Shanshan, long time no see. I hope you have been well!"

Yu Shanshan smiled back. "Young Master Chen, long time no see. I didn't expect you to grace our Wangyue Sect again! It is a great honor!"

Chen Tianhua laughed. "I believe I am the one who is honored! Miss Shanshan, you know that I came to the Wangyue Sect primarily to see your peerless beauty. After all, you have always been the woman I have longed for day and night!"

Hearing this, Yu Shanshan did not know how to respond, her face turning even redder. This was a blatant confession.

"Oh, isn't this Young Sect Master Chen?" Luo Tianlong approached and greeted him.

Chen Tianhua looked at him and cupped his hands in a salute. "I didn't expect to see Young Master Luo of the Tiancang Sect!"

Luo Tianlong smiled faintly. "Young Sect Master Chen must be here to find the person who triggered the celestial phenomenon?"

Chen Tianhua gave a cryptic smile. "Are you not?"

Luo Tianlong nodded slightly. "Indeed, but there is a big difference between you and me now."

"Oh?" Chen Tianhua asked seriously, "And what is the difference?"

Luo Tianlong said proudly, "Young Sect Master Chen, the only difference is that you are still struggling to find out who triggered the phenomenon, while I, entrusted by my sect, have already found them!"

"What did you say?" Chen Tianhua was stunned. He was curious about what methods Luo Tianlong could have used to find the person so quickly. He disbelieved, "You say you have found them? You aren't fooling me, are you?"

"Fooling you? Why would I do that?" Luo Tianlong grinned. "Since you are so eager to know who triggered the celestial phenomenon, I will satisfy your curiosity and, incidentally, save you the trouble of searching. Xiaoshan, come out!"

Luo Shan stepped forward. His eyes were fixed on Yu Shanshan before he turned to Chen Tianhua. "Young Sect Master Chen, my name is Luo Shan. I am Luo Tianlong’s younger brother, and I am the one who triggered the celestial phenomenon last night!"

As he spoke, he looked at Yu Shanshan with pride, as if to tell her: I am the man most worthy of you!

However, Yu Shanshan’s gaze never once rested on him, which filled him with resentment.

With both the Tiancang Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect—the two most powerful factions in the Tianhe Dynasty—present, everyone could guess that they, along with the three great families, had come solely because of the celestial phenomenon triggered at the Wangyue Sect last night.

As Luo Tianlong and Chen Tianhua appeared, Yu Tianba and Yu Xiong stepped forward to welcome them warmly. These were high-profile figures from the top sects who required the utmost hospitality.

Once everyone was seated, Yu Tianba, sitting at the head, said loudly with a smile, "Today is my one-hundredth birthday. I thank you all for coming to offer your well-wishes! The banquet has begun; please eat well and drink to your heart's content! My thanks to you all!"