"I've been thinking for days and still couldn't decide what to give you." Qin Kuangge thumped his chest and laughed. "Just go pick something from my private treasury."
"Thank you, Fourth Brother."
"Don't just thank him. Come look at this treasured armor of mine." Third Sister Qin Qingni seized the chance to step forward and show it off.
It was called treasured armor, but it was actually a gemstone. Only after it was crushed would the armor appear.
Watching Third Sister show it off in front of all the elders, Qin Wangchuan's expression turned strange.
She was the only one who made him feel that something was off.
He had tested her. She wasn't a transmigrator, yet she could say the word "science."
And the things she made really were related to science.
Things like the Spirit Energy Collapse Cannon, the Heavenly Mystery Thunder Tribulation Cannon, and the Spirit Vein-Grade Star Ship.
She was genuinely doing research.
Only after finishing her introduction did Qin Qingni place the item in Qin Wangchuan's hands. "Don't forget to give me some feedback after you've used it."
I won't know how to use it. Qin Wangchuan put it away and thought to himself.
Last time, he'd used a Storage Bracer she'd given him, and it had exploded!
He let out a quiet sigh and turned around, nearly jumping out of his skin.
Fifth Sister Qin Qingzheng was standing extremely close behind him, the tip of her nose almost touching his face. Her cool eyes stared at him without blinking, as if she were examining some rare treasure.
"You have..." She sniffed, her tone certain. "A lovely Sword Intent."
Curious, Qin Wangchuan asked, "What does it smell like?"
"I can't describe it..." She shook her head, then seemed to remember something and reached into the air.
Several boxes appeared in front of them. Inside were a few still-beating hearts. She seemed completely unfazed by the bloody sight, simply offering them to Qin Wangchuan with a serious expression. "For body tempering."
Qin Wangchuan: "...?"
"Hahaha, he's already tempered his body!" the Old Ancestor couldn't help laughing. These Young Masters might be a disgrace to take out in public, but they certainly had a knack for comedy.
After laughing, he told Qin Wangchuan to accept the gift, then explained, "Those are Dragon Hearts. Eating them will benefit you, and you might even awaken some unusual abilities."
"Thank you, Fifth Sister."
Qin Qingzheng gave a satisfied sigh, seeming to enjoy it as she patted Qin Wangchuan's head.
Amid the clatter of a gilt abacus, Seventh Sister Qin Miaoyan tossed him a Storage Bag. "Here. It's full of Spirit Marrow. Don't go saying your Seventh Sister is stingy."
"Spirit Marrow? Seriously?" Qin Wangchuan eyed it suspiciously, unable to believe that his stingy Seventh Sister would give him such a thing.
But when he opened it, his little face darkened.
It was indeed full of Spirit Marrow, but...
"Seventh Sister, wasn't there still that payment you owed me from our last deal?"
They'd agreed that she would buy his information and split the proceeds thirty-seventy, but he still hadn't received his seventy percent.
Clearly, it had already been counted as part of the birthday gift.
Seeing Qin Wangchuan question her, Qin Miaoyan laughed awkwardly.
"No money to give you, but I've got my life! Come and take it!"
Everyone had given their gifts except for the absent Sixth Young Master, Qin Hongchen.
The elders began offering gifts. Naturally, the best came from his own grandfather: all sorts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures useful for cultivation.
The Old Ancestor had prepared a gift, too, but now wasn't the time.
As Qin Wangchuan finished receiving his birthday gifts and walked toward the seat of honor, the entire Star Meteor Pavilion suddenly turned transparent.
Everyone was startled to discover that beneath their feet stretched an enormous tree spanning the starry sky—the Undying Divine Tree had revealed its true form. A branch drooped down, bearing a fruit like cyan jade.
"This fruit bears once every thirty thousand years," Wood Ancestor's voice rang out. "Eat it, and you may glimpse the River of Fate."
"Wood Ancestor, this...?" Someone at the banquet exclaimed in astonishment. When had Wood Ancestor ever given away such a thing?
Along with their shock came bewilderment. Could Ninth Young Master really be so heaven-defying that even this Ancient God had taken pity on him?
Grandfather Qin Fuhai gave Qin Wangchuan a look. "Why aren't you accepting it?"
Qin Wangchuan stepped forward and took it. "Thank you, Wood Ancestor."
Qin Fuhai suddenly stepped forward to straighten Qin Wangchuan's clothes, then gently patted his shoulder. "Today's banquet is your rite of entry into the world. Go on. Tell everyone..."
"Tell them you've arrived."
As the words fell, the entire Star Meteor Pavilion fell utterly silent.
Qin Wangchuan stood before the drooping branch of the Undying Divine Tree, the cyan jade fruit glowing faintly in his palm and casting his features in a picturesque light.
The instant he turned, light and shadow unfurled behind him like a surging tide—
Qin Wudao, Qin Xuanji, and Qin Kuangge stood together, giving him a look of confidence.
Qin Qingni made a circle with her fingers and mouthed, "Don't forget to use it!"
Qin Qingzheng still held her Ancient Sword, her expression vacant.
Qin Miaoyan rolled her eyes. "What are you looking at? I'm the one who got totally ripped off!"
Qin Zhaoer touched the pendant on her earlobe, her expression inscrutable. No one knew what she was thinking.
Qin Wangchuan suddenly smiled. Perhaps this was what family meant.
He took a step forward, and the Dao Rhyme of the Undying Divine Tree swirled beneath his feet.
Its branches pierced through the Myriad Realms, casting their towering silhouettes across countless planes.
Whether Qin Clan generals guarding the borderlands or branch members scattered across the Star Sea, all seemed to sense something and looked up.
At that moment, his name was heard throughout the Myriad Realms.
Even in the endless Outer Realm, a whisper echoed:
"...Son?"
The inner banquet ended, and the outer banquet began.
The instant nine Golden Crows rose from the Cloud Sea, a hundred and eight thousand Bronze Chime Bells rang out in unison.
The sound surged like a tide, startling the Azure Luan perched on the glazed tiles. As they beat their wings, starlight scattered across the sky.
"The auspicious hour has arrived—"
At the ceremonial official's long shout, the White Jade Stairs spanning the Thirty-Three Heavens lit up one after another.
A lotus of golden light appeared on every step, stretching from the Lower Realm all the way to the main hall, like a road reaching up to heaven.
From high above the clouds, a breathtaking scene unfolded—
Flying Ships and Magic Treasures from different Dao Provinces crowded the Star Track, their varied streams of light weaving into a brilliant ribbon around the Qin Realm.
At the very front, nine Flying Ships blotted out the sky and the sun. The crests emblazoned on them were enough to move anyone: they were unmistakably the symbols of the other nine Great Emperor clans.
"The Heavenly Mystery Yun Clan has arrived!"
At the herald's cry, a squad of golden-armored warriors strode through the shattered void.
The gilt plaque carried on the lead warrior's shoulder bore the words "Congratulations on Young Master Qin's Tenth Birthday Banquet," each character forged from stars. Chaos Aura was now streaming from it.
"Is that... the North Pole Ziwei Star?" A sharp-eyed cultivator sucked in a breath. "They plucked a star as a gift!"
More astonishing still, Golden Dao Patterns appeared between the brows of all thirty-six plaque-bearers. They were clearly the rare Mountain-Moving Sacred Body of the Upper Realm; any one of them could tear apart a star in the Lower Realm with their bare hands.
But then again, the Ninth Young Master's mother was from the Yun Clan. Since the gift came from his maternal clan, what was so strange about moving stars and plucking moons?
However—
The thirty-six Mountain-Moving Sacred Body warriors abruptly halted, and the void froze like a mirror.
"Boom—"
A golden fissure suddenly split the heavens. Nine Five-Clawed Golden Dragons dragged a Bronze Imperial Chariot through the sky, their roars shattering the clouds for thousands of miles.
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