"Everyone." Qin Mingshen looked at the crowd. His deep, magnetic voice carried clearly through the room, with no unnecessary preamble—direct and imbued with an unquestionable presence.
"Today's banquet is first and foremost a celebration. Our forces achieved a decisive victory in the Federation's western campaign. In this battle, Warden Shen Zhi deserves the greatest credit."
From among the seats, the Warden in battered black armor immediately rose to his feet. Neither pleased nor displeased, he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Leader. Shen Zhi does not dare claim the credit."
Qin Mingshen nodded. "Rewards based on merit are only natural. Your understanding of the Domain has reached its limit. You are only one step away from mastering [True Understanding of the Domain]. I grant you one Forbidden Crystal to help you break through."
With a flick of his finger, a pale-purple diamond-shaped crystal pierced through space and landed before Warden Shen Zhi in an instant.
The previously impassive Shen Zhi stared at the pale-purple crystal floating before him, and even his breathing grew heavy.
The surrounding crowd erupted in an uproar. Their faces were filled with envy as they stared at the Forbidden Crystal with fiery, greedy eyes, wishing they could claim it for themselves.
Yet with Qin Mingshen present, no one dared make a rash move.
Compared to everyone's greed, Bai Ye was more astonished. Wasn't this fucking Rat Dung... a God Shard!?
It was just lighter in color. His God Shard was black, the Doctor's was dark purple, while the one Qin Mingshen had bestowed was pale purple.
"Thank you, Leader!!" Shen Zhi could no longer maintain his composure and shouted with ragged breaths.
Then, he seized the God Shard and swallowed it in an instant!
The moment the God Shard entered his stomach, a majestic wave