The gifts from the other rank 1 organizations were not too shoddy even in comparison to the One thousand hall battle palace. The gifts they offered were all varied each being a consummate specialty of their own organization.
Some gave out natural treasures that were prevalent in their territory, others gave out finished products such as alchemical pills and potions, others robes, and other artifacts with unique and varied capabilities.
No matter what it was, in terms of quality, the gifts they offered were all in the same standard, they were all in the top tier of the monarch grade. This could be considered very generous, if one considered a top tier monarch grade treasure was equivalent to a peak palace realm expert in terms of power attribute and in terms of equivalent monetary value a single top tier monarch grade artifact was at least 10 million high-grade spirit stones and if it were a rarity, then even spirit stones would not be enough.
Yang Qing was practically beaming as he received each of those gifts, and he soon lost himself to it and forgot the potential dangers of the current session of the ceremony.
After the rank 1 organizations, it was the rank 2 organizations' turn. Yang Qing both looked forward to it and felt a little uncomfortable. The part he was glad about was that about a third of the rank 2 organizations that had made an appearance for the ceremony were merchant organizations, and even if they were not, they could be considered large-scale dealers and suppliers to said merchant organizations.
Merchants were the best gift givers and when it came to the rank 1 organizations in attendance, sadly much to Yang Qing's disappointment there was not a single one in attendance, but when it came to the rank 2 organizations, he had counted at least six and one of the six could be considered to be one of the oldest and among the most powerful and widely spread among rank 2 merchant organizations, and in terms of scale it even rivaled some rank 1 merchant organizations. The only thing that held it back was the absence of a soul formation expert. That organization was the White rose pavilion. They dealt in everything and anything and from what Yang Qing heard, they had already had another branch in the northern continent.
Yang Qing always found it odd since the Northern Continent was quite a ways away from the Southern Continent. One would either have to cross the Celestial Ocean or the Millionsfold treasure ocean depending on which side of the continent they wanted to leave from, then cross the Sea of Dreams and finally the Blue Origin Ocean before they reached the Northern Continent.
Just a single ocean was fraught with many dangers without adding another two more into the mix. Yang Qing couldn't help but wonder why the White Rose Pavilion would open a branch all the way in the Northern Continent; a continent with the least interaction even when compared with the fractured Eastern Continent.
…
The White Rose Pavilion didn't disappoint as they gave Yang Qing a rare pearl that had been bathed with the aura of a Kunpeng, a mythical ancient creature just like the dragon and the phoenix. Yang Qing could detect a dense water Dao in it along with a hint of the ethereal space Dao. In terms of value, it wasn't any less than the iron stalwart dream stone he got from Elder Han Meng of the radiant sword sect or the Mountain spring gourd he got from Elder Luo Yong of the Flowing Valley Sect.
Yang Qing sighed in admiration at the resource depths of the White Rose Pavilion, if they could match the Holy Lands in terms of their gifts. The other rank 2 merchant organizations were not too bad either with their gifts as some came with additional bonuses. The Golden Bamboo Pavilion went this route. In addition to giving Yang Qing a top-tier monarch-grade treasure, they also gave him an all-access pass to all businesses under the pavilion including their subsidiaries. Yang Qing could get anything he wished at a 70% discounted rate, no matter what it was, the discount was universal across all businesses and commodities that had the Golden Bamboo Pavilion.
Yang Qing felt rather awkward accepting it since he knew it was a sort of appeasement gift from one of the founders Lin Guiren on behalf of his son and the incident he had with Yang Qing.
Yang Qing begrudgingly accepted the gift since it would be an additional slap to the founder's face if he rejected his gifts in front of all the guests around, but he made things clear that should his son be found to have broken some of the guiding principles of the Order, then gift or no gift, the punishment that was due to his son, would not change one iota.
Having said all he should have, Yang Qing accepted the gift conscience free, though he still had Blue Universe and Veiled Destiny check the treasure thoroughly to ensure there were no hidden dangers to them. He knew there was no way someone of Lin Guiren's caliber would be that careless or direct with their plans, but one couldn't be too careful, especially not after what Feng Lei, the Assistant Director of the Special Inquisitors told him about one of their founders, Liang Zian, another one of the founders of the Golden Bamboo Pavilion.
After the Golden Bamboo Pavilion, came the Maple Leaf Manor, which was extremely generous as they gave Yang Qing over a dozen top-tier monarch-grade potions, that had been made by a blue-grade alchemist. Yang Qing couldn't help but give their founder Yan Meifeng a once over after she presented her gift. Her gesture which seemed out of character showed there was really something going on between her and Lin Guiren.
Yang Qing remembered one of the notes in Zhong Quan's case of the Earthvine restaurant did mention the Golden Bamboo Pavilion had been focusing on a grand matter over the past few years. Yang Qing increasingly felt the matter had more likely to do with the Maple Leaf Manor.
The rest of the interaction with the other rank 2 organizations went on smoothly, Yang Qing even took advantage of the situation to ask about Zou Yi's and Zou Liqin's grandfather when the delegate sent from the Zou family came to give their gift.
To Yang Qing's delight, the twin's grandfather had been doing okay and the new leader even reduced the sentence he was to serve by half, in honor of his son, the twin's father.
The twins were not in attendance at the ceremony, as Yang Qing had them train up a bit before the entrance examination in a few days' time. As for the information he had just gotten, Yang Qing decided he would tell them later at his party since they would be in attendance.
'Some good news may motivate them to try harder in the test', he thought.
Other than the awkward moment with the Golden Bamboo Pavilion, the rest of the process proceeded smoothly with no sudden attacks, and as far as surprises go, he did get one when the King of the White Baobab Kingdom handed him a normal egg as a gift saying the newcomer in his kingdom told him Yang Qing said he laughed scrambled eggs and thought gifting an egg was rather fitting.
Yang Qing knew the King was just getting back at him for the rock he gave him as a gift when their roles were reversed during the celebration of the anniversary of his kingdom.
Yang Qing stored the matter in his heart. Ten years wasn't late for a gentleman to get his revenge. Yang Qing was no gentleman, he would be getting his revenge during his party.
…
A few familiar faces came by in the gift-giving process such as the King of the Summerfield kingdom, the head of logistics of the Wind Gliding mercenaries, Zhong Quan of the Earthvine restaurant who apologized profusely for his restaurant turning Yang Qing. When it came to apologies he wasn't the only one, since the Emperor of the Red Maple Empire did the same on behalf of his grandfather who was caught along with the son of the founder of the Golden Bamboo Pavilion.
Yang Qing graciously accepted their apologies and said it was water under the bridge. That statement however was only true for one party and that was the Zhong Quan. When it came to the Red Maple Empire, the Emperor's grandfather had already been put under investigation to see if he may have been complicit in any crimes related to Lin Duyi, the son of the Lin Guiren, if he was, then he would have to bear the same punishment as him, whatever they may be.
In addition, a few noble families from the Red Maple Empire had been put into investigation too, such as the Mo family, which had a notorious reputation within Purple City.
The Red Maple Empire had a real chance of losing a palace realm expert and peak-level faction, all in one instance. As for the resulting consequences, they would have to bear it themselves.
After an hour, the gift-giving ceremony ended without a fuss much to Yang Qing's delight. Yang Qing couldn't help but wonder if his earlier display or the presence of figures from two Holy Lands served as a deterrent for any attack.
He hoped it was the former, which would add further light to his amazing bearing when he bragged later.
Vice President Mo Ye closed off the ceremony with a few words before he, the spirit council elders, Chief Justice Lai Ning, along with the elders of the two Holy Lands disappeared, leaving behind Assistant Director Feng Lei, Assistant Director Jun Pei, and the vice chancellor behind.
The disciples from both Holy Lands were left behind and Yang Qing was forced to invite the two palace realm disciples from both sects, back to his abode for the after-party. As for the remaining two domain disciples, they were hosted by a few of the young domain experts from the Order.
The guests had all dispersed after a dozen minutes, and the once booming valley had returned to its original tranquil silence.
However, in that field there were now five people; Assistant Director Feng Lei, Assistant Director Jun Pei, Vice Chancellor Wu Ling, Yang Qing, and Shao An, the Vice Warden of the Requiem.
A moment later another person appeared. He had on pure red robes. He was short and had eyes that resembled an owl's.
"Yang Qing you played your role well, with this they won't be none the wiser," said Assistant Director Feng Lei as they all stared at the same spot where there was a black blob.