You and I Were Never Meant to Be, but Alas, You're Too Rich

Before everyone's eyes, Lin Heng walked at an unhurried pace to the center of Cloud Sword Palace's main hall.

He performed a grand bow to Xiao Rang, who sat in the seat of honor, formally taking him as his master. Then he offered up fragrant tea and said respectfully, "Master, please have some tea."

Xiao Rang accepted the tea, took a light sip, and set it down. He then brought out the apprenticeship gift he had prepared long ago and gave it to Lin Heng.

It was a Divine Weapon. Even within its scabbard, one could sense the sharp, restrained sword intent that had yet to burst forth.

"This was the Sword Artifact I used in my youth, named the Clear Cloud Sword. Today, I give it to you. I hope you will inherit my aspirations, protect the Sect and the people of Lan Continent, and sweep away all treachery and evil."

Passing both his personal sword and his ambitions to Lin Heng was a declaration to the outside world: Lin Heng was his Direct Disciple, the Young Sect Master of Cloud Sword Palace, and, barring unforeseen circumstances, would inherit Cloud Sword Palace in the future.

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing this sword."

Lin Heng accepted it with both hands, clasped his fists, and bowed in thanks.

Then he bowed to the Cloud Sword Palace Elders standing nearby as witnesses. "Lin Heng greets all Martial Uncles and Martial Uncles."

The Elders calmly accepted Lin Heng's bow, then smiled and took out their own welcoming gifts for him.

Transmission Elder Jin Ming smiled at Lin Heng. "Today is the joyous day Heng'er enters our Cloud Sword Palace. This old man will give you a Bright Moon Pendant as a welcoming gift. Keep it on your person for a long time, and it can clear the heart and calm the spirit, reducing inner demons."

Law Enforcement Elder Li Yan spoke up. "I shall give you a Blood Jade Thumb Ring. Wearing it over time can nourish the blood and qi, strengthen the foundation, and cultivate the origin."

Though the two gifts appeared to be ordinary accessories, whether in appearance or practical value, they were priceless treasures.

After that, the other high-ranking Elders also presented Lin Heng with priceless gifts. Finance Elder Wei Xuan gave Lin Heng an iron mine, Spirit Pill Elder Hua Yu gave him a Medicine Mountain, Spirit Plant Elder Zhang Ya gave him a pasture, and Embroidery Elder Yu Rong gave him a cloth shop.

The other mid-ranking steward Elders and masters who had already completed their training also offered gifts in succession. Though they could not compare to the extremely valuable production resources given by the high-ranking Elders, they were still worth a great deal—either some precious metal or rare Spirit Medicine.

There were also many fertile fields, tea mountains, and shops.

Standing beside Xiao Rang, Lin Heng accepted the gift lists handed over by the Elders. After thanking them one by one, he set the lists aside.

Next came the gift lists from the Five Vassal States that had come to witness the ceremony. They did not bother with empty gestures and simply gave money directly.

At first, each had planned to give ten thousand taels of silver as a token gesture.

After all, these dynasties were positioned like Cloud Sword Palace's stewards and cash machines. They were already exploited by Cloud Sword Palace for huge sums every year, leaving them with little savings and unable to cultivate enough strength to resist Cloud Sword Palace.

Besides, whatever rare treasures and spiritual objects their countries produced were not theirs to keep. They could not offer anything too precious.

However, upon seeing Lin Heng's bearing and presence, the Five Vassal States silently tore up their original gift lists.

A seven-year-old Xiantian Expert represented not only formidable cultivation Talent, but also an innate temperament suited for cultivation.

While other seven-year-olds were still playing in the mud, Lin Heng had already become a Xiantian Expert. This was not something that could be achieved merely by piling up Cultivation Resources. In the future, Lin Heng would most likely attain heights greater than Cloud Sword Palace's current Sect Master.

As everyone knew, a Great Grandmaster Realm expert had a conservatively estimated Lifespan of two Sixty-Year cycles.

Some Great Grandmasters proficient in preserving their health could even live past one hundred and fifty. Heaven-Human Realm experts certainly had longer lifespans than Great Grandmasters; living to three, or even four, Sixty-Year cycles was perfectly normal.

For the sake of living a little better over the coming centuries, the representatives of the Five Dynasties directly went all out to curry favor with Lin Heng.

"The East Sea Dynasty, West Moon Dynasty, South Separation Dynasty, Northpeak Dynasty, and Central Spirit Dynasty present congratulatory gifts of one million taels of silver each, in celebration of Young Sect Master Lin Heng."

When Lin Heng saw that amount, he was slightly stunned as well.

Each dynasty was giving one million, making five million altogether. Even at his usual rate of spending several thousand taels of silver a day on cultivation, this money would last him for years.

He gave the representatives of the dynasties a deep look and read their unwavering resolve to draw closer to him from the ingratiating smiles on their faces.

You and I were never meant to be, but alas, you're too rich.

Money was simply too important. It concerned the pace of his future cultivation.

Even Xiao Rang, the Sect Master of Cloud Sword Palace, was usually cordial when dealing with the emperors of the Five Dynasties.

Thus, after accepting the gift lists handed over by the envoys of the five states, Lin Heng smiled and nodded.

"Thank you. Let us keep in closer contact from now on."

Keep in closer contact.

Those simple words seemed to carry little weight, yet the smiles on the representatives' faces grew far more sincere. It meant that, before the future Sect Master of Cloud Sword Palace, they could now be said to have a voice.

This meant that, so long as they did not court death themselves, the wealth and honor of their descendants would be secure.

Xiao Rang watched Lin Heng interact with the envoys of the five states with satisfaction. As expected of his disciple, he had made excellent use of the lessons Xiao Rang had once taught him about governing subordinates.

If Lin Heng continued to grow along this path, then even after Xiao Rang rode the crane westward, he would not need to worry about the future inheritance of Cloud Sword Palace.

After the Five Dynasties had presented their gifts, it was finally the turn of the envoys from the other two great Righteous Path Martial Arts Holy Lands.

It was not that Cloud Sword Palace was slighting them. After all, the three great powers each had their own territory, their interests did not conflict, and they had formed an alliance many years ago to resist the many Evil Sects of Lan Continent. Their relationship could be said to be excellent.

They had been arranged last because these two forces, equal in standing to Cloud Sword Palace, were meant to serve as the grand finale and raise the atmosphere of Lin Heng's Master Acknowledgment Ceremony to another height.

"Heavenly Star Valley presents Young Sect Master Lin with one bolt of Star Sand Brocade."

"Ice Frost City presents one portion of Ice Cold Dew."

Sure enough, once the gift lists from the two Martial Arts Holy Lands were announced, they drew everyone's attention. Many revealed astonished expressions.

As its name suggested, Star Sand Brocade was a brocade woven from a special kind of silk. Its entire surface was a dreamlike blue, as though stardust had been scattered across it, hence the name Star Sand Brocade.

The greatest use of this brocade was in making clothing and armor. Worn on the body, it was not only light and comfortable, but also possessed defensive power no less than heavy armor. Most importantly, it could enhance a Martial Artist's perception of Sun Essence Moon Splendor and increase their cultivation speed to a certain extent.

Every bolt of Star Sand Brocade was extraordinarily costly to produce. It could be called priceless, and it was a treasure with a price but no market—absolutely not for sale.

Ice Cold Dew, meanwhile, was a Foundation Establishment Spirit Medicine. It could cleanse the body and elevate one's innate bones, helping Martial Artists strengthen their foundation and cultivate their origin. It was likewise an Ice Frost City specialty that was not for sale.