Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Celestial Heart Imperial Fruit
Wang Hai saw the crowd’s shocked expressions, and a sense of triumph he couldn’t express welled up inside him. He simply smiled and said, "City Lord, I wouldn’t dare deceive you."
"Excellent, excellent! Bring it up, quickly," Leng Tian said with a hearty laugh.
Hei Zhuo was his most trusted bodyguard. His power was at its zenith, and he was the expert in Blue Moon City with the greatest hope of breaking through to the Celestial Martial Artist realm.
Unfortunately, Hei Zhuo had suffered an accident two years prior while attempting a breakthrough, damaging his Profound Vein. Although his strength remained, his potential for further progress had all but vanished, a matter of great concern for Leng Tian.
Now, hearing that Wang Hai’s Pill could heal Hei Zhuo’s injury, he was instantly overcome with excitement.
The stronger Hei Zhuo became, the more secure the City Lord’s Mansion would be.
Seeing the City Lord so delighted, Wang Hai finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Recently, the Wang family had been frequently reprimanded by the City Lord’s Mansion, which had made Wang Hai, the Patriarch, quite anxious.
While the Wang family’s growth in Blue Moon City was not directly tied to the City Lord’s Mansion, its support was nevertheless essential.
To restore their family’s image in Leng Tian’s eyes, the Wang family had gone to great lengths to find these two treasures, aiming to reverse their declining status.
Now, it seemed their efforts had paid off.
As Leng Tian and the others watched with excitement, Wang Xuan gently placed the Pill on a nearby table and then respectfully withdrew.
"Good, good," Leng Tian couldn’t help but say again. Beside him, Hei Zhuo also looked thrilled.
However, given their high status, neither was so overcome with excitement that they would open and consume the Pill in front of everyone.
Seeing Leng Tian’s reaction, the other Patriarchs present felt incredibly frustrated.
The Wang family’s offering was too lavish. Even though this part of the banquet had just begun, it seemed first place for the year was already guaranteed to go to them.
"Heh heh, Patriarch Wang Hai is truly a man of great wealth. A treasure like that is priceless, I’m sure. And while the Zhou family may be of more modest means, our admiration for the City Lord is no less profound. We have also prepared two Profound Soldiers, one for Miss Leng Yingying and one for Commander Hei Zhuo."
The Patriarch of the Zhou family, Zhou Tong, stood up with a slight smile.
At once, an attendant from the Zhou family came forward, carrying two Profound Soldiers.
One was a longsword, as thin as a cicada’s wing, its blade gleaming like placid autumn waters. It was three feet, three inches long and radiated a cold, brilliant light under the lamps.
"I have long heard that Miss Leng Yingying’s cultivation technique is exceptionally profound. This Autumn Water Sword, while only a First Grade Profound Soldier, is inscribed with a Cold Spirit Array. When combined with ice-attribute qi, it can increase the user’s power by fifty percent. The Autumn Water Sword, for a lady as fair as autumn waters—I hope Miss Leng Yingying will like it."
A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Leng Yingying’s face. "The Autumn Water Sword, with a Cold Spirit Array? Thank you, Patriarch Zhou." Her Cultivation Technique was of the Ice Attribute, and her Martial Soul was similar, making the sword a perfect match for her.
"And here, I have another Profound Soldier, one that the Zhou family went to great pains to acquire. This spear is named ’Soul-Destroying.’ It is a Fourth Grade Profound Soldier. I hope Commander Hei Zhuo will be pleased with it."
Everyone present was shocked. "Soul-Destroying? Could it be the Soul-Destroying Spear used hundreds of years ago by the great Yang Jun of the Liuyun Kingdom when he was young—the Tier Five Martial Sect of the Sect Martial Realm?"
Hei Zhuo’s eyes widened as well.
The black cloth covering the Profound Soldier was lifted, revealing a black spear. It was pitch-black from end to end, emanating a somber glow. The moment it was unveiled, a suffocating aura poured out, sending a chill down everyone’s spine.
"I’m sure you’ve all guessed it. This ’Soul-Destroying’ is the very same spear used by the great Yang Jun. I believe that in Commander Hei Zhuo’s hands, it will surely regain its former glory."
As Zhou Tong finished speaking, the crowd was left utterly astounded.
’What is with this year? The Wang and Zhou families are one-upping each other. A Fourth Grade Pill, and now a Fourth Grade Profound Soldier... Even though one family deals in Pills and the other in Demon Pills, treasures of this caliber must have cost them dearly.’
"Hahaha, excellent, excellent! Patriarch Zhou, a fine gesture indeed," City Lord Leng Tian boomed with laughter.
With these two treasures, Hei Zhuo’s strength was sure to rise to a new level.
Zhou Tong offered a few humble words, bowed, and retreated. Inwardly, he heaved a sigh of relief. ’Over the past two months, the Zhou family has also been repeatedly warned by the City Lord’s Mansion. That’s why we had to offer such a magnificent gift, despite the pain it caused us. Now that we have Lord Leng Tian’s forgiveness, it’s a happy outcome for everyone.’
Next was Chen Lin, Patriarch of the Chen family. He had prepared a set of Heart Method martial arts for Leng Yingying, and for City Lord Leng Tian, he presented a piece of Qilin Treasure Jade that stood half as tall as a man.
Such a treasure was incredibly expensive and, in any other year, would have been considered one of the finest gifts.
But when compared to the treasures from the Wang and Zhou families, it immediately paled in comparison.
After that, the other guests presented their gifts one by one, and the scene became bustling and lively.
Among the gift-givers, the most nonchalant were representatives from powers like the Soul Master Tower. Jiang Xun from the Soul Master Tower presented a piece of Soul Nourishing Jade, Association President Hua Luoxuan offered a Third Grade Pill, and Academy Dean Zhu Weichen gave a book of martial techniques.
While their gifts would be considered expensive by most families, they were of little consequence to the givers themselves.
Given their status and standing, they had no need to wrack their brains preparing a gift for City Lord Leng Tian.
Seeing the array of gifts, Ye Zhanxiong and his family, who had been on edge, breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
It was their first time attending the banquet, and they were naturally nervous about their gift.
Now, it was clear that while the Ye family’s gift wasn’t outstanding, it was by no means inferior. They shouldn’t be laughed at.
Seeing everyone presenting gifts one after another, Ye Zhanxiong and his family didn’t try to push forward. They figured they could just find a convenient moment to present their own.
"Heh heh, you must be the renowned Ye family from Cyan Mountain Town. I’ve heard that the Ye family is a major power in Cyan Mountain Town, monopolizing over half of Blue Moon City’s medicinal herb trade. The Wang family deeply admires such a family." In the midst of the gift presentations, Wang Hai, Patriarch of the Wang family, had suddenly appeared before Ye Zhanxiong and the others, his face fixed in a malicious smile.
His words immediately drew the attention of everyone in the hall.
"Oh? So you are the Ye family from Cyan Mountain Town? Let me have a look," Leng Tian said at once from his seat of honor.
Ye Zhanxiong and his family, who had been at the back of the crowd, hurried forward. "Greetings, City Lord."
"Ah, this is my private banquet, there’s no need for such ceremony." Leng Tian stood up, showing no airs of superiority, and helped Ye Zhanxiong up with a smile. "To think the Blood Saber Stronghold ran rampant in Blue Moon City, and this great city of mine was powerless against them. This time, it is all thanks to the Ye family that this scourge has been removed. Seeing you all today, I can tell you are truly heroes among men."
"You flatter us, City Lord."
"City Lord, the fact that the Ye family annihilated the Blood Saber Stronghold shows their formidable strength. I deeply admire you for granting them the title of an honorary family."
Just then, Zhou Tong, Patriarch of the Zhou family, also began to laugh, which left everyone in the hall completely baffled.
’Aren’t the Wang and Zhou families rumored to be enemies? The conflict before the banquet proved that. So what is this display supposed to be?’
In the next moment, it all clicked for the crowd. They heard Zhou Tong continue, "Patriarch Ye, since this is your first time attending the City Lord’s banquet, and you’ve just been granted the title of an honorary family, you must have prepared an exquisite gift for the City Lord. I wonder what kind of treasure it could be? Don’t be shy, let us all have a look."
The moment Zhou Tong spoke, Ye Zhanxiong’s heart sank, while the other Patriarchs finally understood.
’No wonder those two families were being so nice,’ they thought. ’It was a trap all along. The Ye family is so small; how could their gift possibly compare to the lavish ones the Wang and Zhou families prepared? But if their gift is poor, they’ll immediately leave a bad impression on the City Lord.’
"Heh heh, Patriarch Zhou is right. I wonder what gift Patriarch Ye has prepared?"
"Bring it out and let us all see."
"The Ye family is a major power in Cyan Mountain Town and controls most of the medicinal herb trade in Blue Moon City. Their gift is sure to be extraordinary."
A large group of Patriarchs, all eager to stir up trouble, chimed in with laughter.
Ye Zhanxiong smiled wryly to himself and had no choice but to speak. "City Lord, our Ye family was both honored and humbled by your invitation. We have specially prepared this Tier Four Celestial Heart Imperial Fruit. This fruit grows in lands rich with Profound Qi and ripens only once every ten years. It can gently nourish the Profound Vein, and we hope it will be of some help to Commander Hei Zhuo’s injury."
As he spoke, he presented a jade box. Inside lay an exquisite fruit, emitting a rich, sweet fragrance.
"Heh heh, how thoughtful of you, Patriarch Ye. Knowing that Commander Hei Zhuo suffers from a latent injury, you specially prepared a Celestial Heart Imperial Fruit." Wang Hai’s lips twisted into a sarcastic smirk. "A Celestial Heart Imperial Fruit certainly can’t be grown in any ordinary herb garden. It only grows occasionally in dangerous places like Black Wind Ridge, which is overrun with Demon Beasts. Patriarch Ye, you didn’t happen to wipe out the Blood Saber Stronghold just for this fruit, did you? With their ability to dominate Black Wind Ridge, they’re the only ones who could have obtained it. Such a thoughtful gesture, indeed."
"Indeed. I imagine that for a band of outlaws like the Blood Saber Stronghold, even a treasure like the Celestial Heart Imperial Fruit is a rare find," Zhou Tong added with a laugh.
As the two men played off each other, the expressions of the onlookers grew odd.
Everyone present was astute enough to understand. The two Patriarchs were seemingly praising the Ye family, but in reality, they were mocking them. Their words implied that after annihilating the Blood Saber Stronghold and taking its treasures, this Celestial Heart Imperial Fruit was just something casually picked from the spoils.
Ye Zhanxiong’s expression changed instantly, his face turning ashen.
But then Ye Zhanyun smiled faintly. "Patriarch Wang, Patriarch Zhou, our Ye family can’t claim to have made such a ’thoughtful gesture.’ We asked President Hua Luoxuan to procure this Celestial Heart Imperial Fruit from the kingdom’s Alchemist Association, simply so we could offer our humble service to the City Lord."
