Chapter 409: Pinnacle of the World
The Xuanyuan Clan was one of the four major clans in Yanjing.
The guests were shocked. What was the Xuanyuan Clan doing here?
The Su Clan[1] was doing well in Baiyun City, but if they were in Yanjing, they wouldn't be worth even a fart.
Therefore, no one expected to see the Xuanyuan Clan at Su Zi's birthday party!
After the initial shock, many different thoughts popped up in the minds of the guests.
The Su Clan wasn't just an ordinary clan!
Upon learning of Xuanyuan Ling's arrival, Su Mu quickly led Su Zi to welcome her.
Today, Xuanyuan Ling was still dressed in a spotless white gown, and her face was partially covered with a veil, making it impossible to see her full appearance. An old man with white hair was standing behind Xuanyuan Ling.
Su Mu quickly gave a slight bow. "Welcome, Miss Ling!"
Su Mu had to be humble toward them! There was no way around it. The Su Clan was vastly inferior to an ancient clan like the Xuanyuan Clan. It could be said that a single word from them was enough to determine the life and death of the entire Su Clan.
Xuanyuan Ling politely said, "Uncle Su, there's no need for such formalities."
Uncle Su?! The crowd gasped. Xuanyuan Ling had actually addressed Su Mu as Uncle Su! Just how deep were the waters of the Su Clan? How many cards had they been hiding up their sleeves?
Su Mu was in disbelief as well. Wasn't she being too polite?
Xuanyuan Ling's gaze landed on Su Zi, and she smiled. "Are you Miss Su?"
Su Zi nodded. "Yes."
Xuanyuan Ling's smile deepened as she said, "I heard that you're going to Yanjing soon. Once you get there, please visit our Xuanyuan Residence once you have time."
Su Zi was surprised, but she didn't think too much about it and replied, "Definitely!"
Xuanyuan Ling nodded before turning to the old man next to her. The old man took out a gift box and handed it over to Su Zi. "Miss Su, this is a gift from my young miss. Happy birthday."
The old man opened the gift box, revealing a coral as red as blood. The coral wasn't big, about the same size as one's palm, but it emitted a very thick medicinal smell. The smell was so thick that even guests ten meters away could still smell it.
Everyone instantly felt refreshed upon smelling the coral.
"I-Isn't that a thousand-year-old Blood Coral?!" someone exclaimed.
A thousand-year-old Blood Coral?! The crowd was flabbergasted. A hundred-year-old Blood Coral was already worth millions and was extremely rare, so there was no need to mention the value of a thousand-year-old Blood Coral.
It was practically priceless!
The Xuanyuan Clan truly lived up to their name as a major clan. They were actually capable of giving such a valuable item as a birthday gift. The thought of the clan's treasury alone made everyone feel a shiver down their spine.
Su Zi was shocked as well. She never thought that the Xuanyuan Clan would give her something so precious.
The old man beside Xuanyuan Ling smiled and said, "Miss Su Zi, smelling this item alone will delay the aging process and make you even more beautiful. Consuming it will cleanse your body and reconstruct both your muscles and marrow, making them seem brand new."
A few distinguished guests were instantly moved by the remark. Clearly, blood corals were a dream item for martial artists!
"Miss Ling, this is too precious..." Su Zi muttered.
Xuanyuan Ling smiled. "I wish to give you this, so please do not reject it."
Su Zi hesitated for a moment and glanced at Su Mu.
Su Mu glanced at Xuanyuan Ling and instantly realized that Xuanyuan Ling was trying to establish a connection between them. He was confused, but he felt that Xuanyuan Ling's actions wouldn't harm the Su Clan, so he nodded.
Su Zi no longer hesitated and said, "Thank you!"
Su Zi grabbed the gift and put it away.
"Miss Ling, please take a seat over here," Su Mu said and led Xuanyuan Ling to the main table, where the exceptionally distinguished guests were seated. Everyone at the table stood up, and they only sat down slowly after Xuanyuan Ling had taken her seat.
However, everyone was too nervous to talk to Xuanyuan Ling.
It couldn't be helped. The gap between them was just too massive! They found it impossible to greet someone of such high status!
Gu Yunman glanced at Xuanyuan Ling, feeling extremely curious. How did the Xuanyuan Clan get to know the Su Clan? Moreover, the Xuanyuan Clan was treating the Su Clan with so much respect. Even in Yanjing, the Xuanyuan Clan rarely showed such courtesy to others.
Gu Yunman had many burning questions in mind, while her auburn-haired niece didn't dare to speak anything.
Xuanyuan Ling looked around, seemingly looking for something.
Just then, a young man walked in.
Su Zi frowned upon seeing him while some people in the crowd chuckled.
The young man was none other than Wang Yue from the Wang Clan.
Only a few people laughed, but everyone knew that Wang Yue was chasing after Su Zi. The Wang Clan was quite powerful in Baiyun City, and a marriage alliance between them the Su Clan and the Wang Clan meant the start of a dynasty. Hence, the people with vested interests in both clans were eager to see them get married.
Today, Wang Yue was wearing a black tux.
He looked decent, but his greasy appearance made everyone deduct a few points.
Wang Yue walked up to Su Zi. He took out an exquisite gift box and smiled.
"Su Zi, happy birth"
Wang Yue couldn't complete his sentence, as Su Zi had run past him, stunning everyone.
Wang Yue's expression stiffened, and he froze on the spot.
Xuanyuan Ling stood up and stared at the door.
A young man was standing by the door, and he was none other than Ye Guan.
Gu Yunman saw Xuanyuan Ling's movement, and she couldn't help but cast a thoughtful gaze upon Ye Guan. Meanwhile, the auburn-haired young woman started trembling in fear upon seeing Ye Guan.
Mu Wanyu stood up as well. There was no way she would miss Su Zi's birthday, and she had come here early to do something else as well, aside from attending Su Zi's birthday.
Mu Wanyu stared nervously at Ye Guan.
Everyone watched as Su Zi ran to Ye Guan.
"You're here!" Su Zi said with a smile.
"Yes." Ye Guan nodded and smiled. "I'm here."
Ye Guan looked around and remarked, "I didn't expect to see so many people here!"
Su Zi looked slightly helpless as she muttered, "I had no choice. Grandpa arranged all this."
"Well, it's all fine," Ye Guan replied with a smile.
Wang Yue walked and was stunned to see Ye Guan. How come this guy was so handsome? However, Wang Yue's shock didn't last long. Lookism wasn't particularly prevalent in this world; money and background were necessary for one to rise to the summit!
Wang Yue disliked Ye Guan, but he chose to maintain his composure. Getting angry just because someone was more handsome than him was tantamount to inviting the crowd's dislike.
Wang Yue stared affectionately at Su Zi and showed the exquisite gift box in his hand.
"Su Zi, happy birthday!" he said with a smile.
He opened the box without waiting for Su Zi's response. The gift box contained a brick-shaped necklace adorned with a massive diamond almost the size of a pigeon egg. The diamond shone brightly in the sunlight.
"That's the Pinnacle of the World!" someone exclaimed.
The Pinnacle of the World?! The crowd was beyond stupefied. The Pinnacle of the World was known as one of the top ten diamonds in Huaxia, and it had been auctioned for a high price of twelve billion Huaxian dollars.
No one expected the Pinnacle of the World to land in Wang Yue's hands. Even more astonishing was the fact that Wang Yue had just offered to give such a valuable diamond to Su Zi. What a generous move!
Su Zi glanced at the diamond and shook her head. "Wang Yue, I can't accept this. It's too valuable."
The crowd was bewildered. Did Su Zi just reject the Pinnacle of the World?
Wang Yue was stupefied. He truly didn't expect that Su Zi would reject his gift.
In his eyes, no woman could resist the Pinnacle of the World.
However, Su Zi had actually decided to reject his gift?
Wang Yue was truly at a loss for words.
Su Zi looked at Ye Guan and smiled "Have a seat!"
Ye Guan was about to speak, but Wang Yue suddenly shouted, "Wait!"
Ye Guan turned to Wang Yue.
Wang Yue smiled at Ye Guan and asked, "How should I address you?"
Ye Guan replied, "Ye Guan."
Wang Yue looked at the paper bag in Ye Guan's hand and said, "I'm really curious about just what exquisite gift Mr. Ye here has brought for Su Zi's birthday. Can you give everyone here the honor of seeing your gift?"
Su Zi frowned in displeasure at Wang Yue's attack on Ye Guan. Su Zi was well aware of Ye Guan's financial status, but Su Zi couldn't honestly care less about luxury items.
"I'm going to accept your gift no matter what it is!" Su Zi declared.
Everyone's expression turned strange, and they cast curious gazes at Ye Guan. Just what was Ye Guan's background, and just how did he win over Miss Su's favor?
Wang Yue's face turned ugly. Su Zi's declaration had humiliated him.
Ye Guan took out the gift box from the paper bag and handed it over to Su Zi.
"Happy birthday!" he exclaimed.
Su Zi smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you."
She put the gift away without opening it. Clearly, she didn't want to give Wang Yue any chance to ridicule Ye Guan.
However, Wang Yue didn't give up. He smiled and said, "Su Zi, why not open it and let everyone see just what it is? I'm curious about Mr. Ye's gift as well. I want to see what exactly it is that you rejected my Pinnacle of the World for it!"
Everyone stared curiously at Su Zi.
Su Zi's frown deepened.
"Su Zi," Ye Guan suddenly said, "Since everyone wants to see it, then let them see it."
Su Zi hesitated upon hearing Ye Guan's remark, but she eventually decided to open the gift box, revealing a necklacea necklace with a stone emitting a dazzling array of colors!
Wang Yu was stupefied, but he then cackled mockingly, "Is that it? Why is it so small?"
Ye Guan's gemstone was prettier, but it wasn't as big as Wang Yue's Pinnacle of the World. Wang Yue even felt like it was an insult to compare his Pinnacle of the World to Ye Guan's gemstone the size of a booger.
Wang Yue wasn't alone, as quite a few people looked disappointed.
However, Su Zi was delighted! The necklace was beautiful, and most importantly, it had come from Ye Guan.
Step, step, step!
Xuanyuan Ling walkedno, she ran over to Su Zi. Xuanyuan Ling stared wide-eyed at the Nuwa Stone embedded in the necklace.
"Tt-that's!" Xuanyuan Ling stammered.
Ye Guan was taken aback by Xuanyuan Ling's reaction. Clearly, she had recognized the Nuwa Stone.
Wang Yue turned to Xuanyuan Ling and snorted, "It's a tiny stone. Is there a need to be so surprised? Looklook at the size of my stone!"
Wang Yue then took out his diamond and presented it to Xuanyuan Ling.
"Idiot!" Xuanyuan Ling scolded, "Shut up!"
The abrupt scolding caught everyone off guard and rendered them speechless.
1. Family and Clan has been interchangeable all this while, and it's because the author has been using different words to refer to them and . For the sake of consistency, all Family will now be Clan aside from the Yang Family, as the author has been pretty consistent with using for it.
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