Chi Boqian approached Qin Yu's table alone, his usual deep and dignified demeanor as the clan leader gone. The joy of the Chi Lineage's victory today was finally written all over the face of this clan leader.
He looked at Qin Yu with a gentle yet solemn gaze, his admiration and respect undisguised. He walked closer and picked up the wine pot on the table to pour himself a cup.
"Come, young friend Qin." Chi Boqian raised his cup. "This old man will toast you again." Qin Yu did not refuse, and immediately stood up, raising his cup heartily. "Alright, senior." The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.
Chi Boqian put down his cup, patted Qin Yu on the shoulder, and then smiled, pointing to a seat. "Sit, sit, sit. Tonight is a victory celebration banquet; there's no need to stand and engage in such formalities."
The two sat down again.
Chi Boqian's smile gradually faded, and his expression became serious. He didn't speak immediately, but first glanced at the still brightly lit Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace, then looked at the Chi Family Lineage members who hadn't completely dispersed in the distance.
After a moment, he slowly said, "Young friend Qin, you have displayed your brilliance for my Chi Clan today, winning first place in this grand event. As for the extent of your contribution, no matter how much I have told you before, you probably only have a rough idea in your mind."
Qin Yu did not interrupt.
Chi Boqian continued, "While you were competing in the Myriad Worlds Graveyard, several elders of the clan had already begun discussing it. After the final results were relayed back, I discussed it again with the elders of each branch."
At this point, he turned around and looked directly at Qin Yu. "In the end, everyone agreed." "First," Chi Boqian's voice became steady. "From now on, you are one of my Chi Lineage members." Qin Yu's eyes flickered slightly, but Chi Boqian's expression was not joking at all.
"The so-called 'one of us' here are not just empty titles, nor are they empty words said to you to celebrate today's victory."
He slowly placed his palm on the table, saying each word clearly, "From now on, wherever you go in the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain, as long as you still acknowledge the kindness of the Chi Lineage, the Chi Lineage will acknowledge you as a person. Anyone who intentionally harms you because of your normal actions, or tries to bully, oppress, or kill you with their backing—"
The gentleness in Chi Boqian's eyes gradually faded, and the majesty accumulated over countless years as the head of a clan finally revealed itself. "My Chi Lineage will surely exterminate him." His voice was not loud, but Qin Yu could hear the weight in it, especially after his battle with Hua Jingmeng today. Both of them knew exactly what those words meant.
Qin Yu remained silent for a moment, then solemnly cupped his hands towards Chi Boqian. "Qin Yu will remember this favor, senior." Chi Boqian looked at him and slowly nodded. "Good." Then the sternness on his face faded a bit. "As for the second matter..." Chi Boqian suddenly smiled.
"Take a look at this first." He flipped his palm and took out a thin black jade slip, handing it to Qin Yu. Qin Yu took the jade slip and immersed his Fate Soul perception into it.
The next instant, a complete list of rewards appeared clearly in his mind.
The first line at the top reads "Wuji Return to Origin Pill" (无极归元丹) – 10,000 pills. Following this is a brief note. "All things return to one, and one returns to nothingness. After taking it, all opposition dissolves, returning to the undifferentiated source."
Qin Yu's eyes flickered noticeably for the first time. Ten thousand. But the list wasn't finished yet.
The second item – Primordial Origin Supreme Treasure – two pieces; the third item – Dreamplay Beads – one thousand pieces.
Qin Yu paused for a moment, his fingers gripping the jade slip. Even considering the many divine weapons and treasures he had seen today, this reward was still astonishing. Especially since it wasn't something Qin Yu had won personally.
This is the Lineage reward that the Chi Lineage family received directly from the Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain after winning first place in this grand gathering of the Lineage. It consists of 10,000 Wuji Return to Origin Pill Primordial Origin Supreme Treasure, and 1,000 Dreamplay Beads. The significance of these three items placed side by side is self-evident.
Qin Yu withdrew his Fate Soul perception from the jade slip, a hint of surprise still lingering in his eyes. "So much?" Chi Boqian laughed upon seeing his reaction. "Now you understand?"
Qin Yu looked down at the list in his hand again and nodded slowly. Only now did he realize just how important the first thing he had brought back to the Chi Lineage was.
Ten thousand Wuji Return to Origin Pill alone would be enough for the Chi Lineage to cultivate the younger generation and solidify the foundation of the powerful members of the various branches for a long period of time; the two Primordial Origin Supreme Treasure need no further explanation, as they are already important treasures that are enough to be included in the Lineage's foundation; as for the thousand Dreamplay Beads, they are also an extremely rich resource.
This time, the gesture from Supreme Transformation Primordial Domain was truly extravagant. Chi Boqian picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and his smile widened. "So, young friend Qin," he said, "Now you know just how valuable this first place is to the Chi Lineage, don't you?"
Qin Yu smiled and shook his head. "It seems I did underestimate him." "Hahahaha!" Chi Boqian laughed heartily. "Not only did you underestimate him, but several core elders in the clan reacted even more strongly than you when they saw the list."
The laughter gradually subsided, but Chi Boqian did not rise. He slowly turned his right hand. A wisp of black-gold light rose from his palm, and Qin Yu's gaze followed it. It was a token.
The entire token is a deep black-gold color, with no complicated decorations on the edges, only a few ancient and steady traces of the Chi Lineage's origin. In the center of the token is not the usual name and position, but a special mark that has never appeared on other identity tokens of the Chi Lineage.
The black and gold colors slowly alternated deep within the patterns, and with each shift, they subtly resonated with a vast aura deep within the Chi Family Lineage's territory.
Chi Boqian held the token with two fingers and handed it to Qin Yu. "This is for you." Qin Yu didn't take it immediately. "An identity token?" That's right. Chi Boqian looked at him. "However, the Chi Lineage only has this one."
Qin Yu's brow twitched slightly. Chi Boqian placed the token in his palm. The black-gold token felt slightly heavy, and an aura identical to the Chi Lineage's protective essence immediately emanated from his palm, yet without any repulsion. "From now on, with this token, you can freely enter and exit most areas of the Chi Lineage."
Chi Boqian raised his hand, pointing to the distant, layered palaces of the Chi Lineage. "The Cultivation Art Hall Pavilion, you may enter." "You do not need to request permission for any of the clan's open cultivation grounds." "If you encounter any elders guarding the pavilions, simply show this token."
Qin Yu looked down at the black and gold token in his palm, his expression gradually becoming solemn. Such authority far exceeded what ordinary guest elders could possess. Since Chi Boqian dared to give him the only such token, it represented more than just gratitude.
That was a true act of trust. "Senior..." Chi Boqian waved his hand. "Don't thank me yet, there's one more place." Qin Yu looked up. A meaningful smile appeared in Chi Boqian's eyes. "Deep in the back mountains of my Chi Lineage, there is a Life Source Pool." He lowered his voice slightly as he said this.
"That place isn't open to just anyone on ordinary days. Even direct descendants of the clan need to assess their cultivation level, achievements, and the state of their Fate Soul to enter. The Life Source Pool is filled with the essence of life source accumulated by my Chi Lineage over many years, which is extremely beneficial for repairing the origin of the Fate Soul and accumulating realm."
Qin Yu's attention was immediately drawn to it. He had just experienced a battle with Hua Jingmeng, and the damage to his Fate Soul essence had not yet fully recovered. Moreover, his cultivation was in the period of transitioning from the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage to a deeper level.
Chi Boqian had clearly seen this. "With this token, you are not limited in the number of times you can go." Chi Boqian raised his hand and pointed at the black and gold token in Qin Yu's palm. "Go whenever you want." Then he leaned back in his seat, his gaze sweeping over Qin Yu, a smile deepening between his brows.
"Especially since you've just experienced a life-or-death battle, although your Fate Soul essence has been damaged, it has also undergone continuous tempering through the Myriad Spirits Burial Banner, the Life Silence Return to the Ruins, and your own enlightenment. Once your injuries stabilize, go soak in the Life Source Pool and slowly let what you accumulated in this battle settle down..."
Chi Boqian stroked his beard and smiled. "I think this should be of great help to your current breakthrough from the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage to the middle stage." Qin Yu looked at the black and gold token in his palm but did not speak immediately.
The grand banquet at the Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace was gradually coming to an end, with sporadic laughter still drifting from afar. The celestial river of light flowed slowly in the sky, and the palaces of the Chi Lineage remained brightly lit in the dead of night.
A martial arts competition, a first place—only now did Qin Yu truly see the full ripples this result had stirred within the Chi Lineage. He slowly clenched his fist, putting the black-gold token into his palm, then looked up at Chi Boqian, his expression becoming more solemn. "Senior's kindness." "Qin Yu will remember it."