Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 624 - 622: The Competition of Gifts

"It is an honor that so many esteemed fellow Daoists have graced my daughter’s Nascent Soul celebration with their presence!"

Ning Tianyi stood up and delivered the opening address.

Meanwhile, Ning Daoran and the other guests began to take their seats, which were arranged largely based on cultivation levels. Sitting in the two seats nearest to Ning Tianyi were two elderly men with white hair and beards, exuding the aura of late-stage Nascent Soul. Their presence was imposing and extraordinary.

The second tier of seats hosted a group of mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

True Monarch Qi Xing, True Monarch Du’e, True Monarch Liu Yun, and others were seated in this row. Unexpectedly, Ning Daoran, who was only at the early-stage Nascent Soul, was placed here as well, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Lin Xuyan.

The third, fourth, and fifth tiers were all occupied by early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

Looking around, Ning Daoran couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. The caliber of attendees at today’s celebration was enough to make the entire Endless Demon Sea tremble thrice. Indeed, the City Lord of Guixu City, Ning Tianyi, commanded tremendous influence!

Soon after, a group of maidens dressed like palace attendants began serving the banquet. The tables were laden with various spiritual wines, spirit meat, and spirit fruits. The arrangements chosen by Ning Tianyi were of the highest standards; even the tables for Nascent Soul cultivators featured a plate of highly valuable Dragon Jade Fruit. This type of spirit fruit was brimming with spiritual energy and fetched a price of at least several hundred spirit stones per fruit in the outside world.

"Esteemed guests!"

The Longque Wanderer stepped forward, indicating that the guests could now present their gifts to the City Lord and his cherished daughter.

In front of the Golden Core practitioners’ seats, a group of servants from the City Lord’s Mansion collected gifts and meticulously recorded them on a ledger. For the Nascent Soul cultivators’ seats, however, the process was different. Each gift was announced loudly by an early-stage Nascent Soul devotee when presented.

"Allow me to lead by example."

One young early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator arose. With a wave of his sleeve, celestial energy swirled, transforming into a streak of tunneling light that soared to the high platform. He retrieved a brocade box from his sleeve and presented it formally. The steward of the City Lord’s Mansion received the gift, and Ning Mingyu nodded in acknowledgment, offering polite thanks. Everything proceeded impeccably as protocol demanded.

Moments later, the early-stage Nascent Soul devotee infused his voice with Nascent Soul spiritual power and announced loudly, "A gift from the Deputy Sect Master of the Nanlu Sect, Heavenly Mountain True Monarch—a pair of third-tier top-grade Spiritual Treasure Feather Boots!"

In an instant, expressions of shock rippled across the faces of those seated among the Golden Core practitioners. Such was the level of gifts from Nascent Soul cultivators—a pair of third-tier top-grade boots indeed! The Nanlu Sect truly lived up to its reputation as a premier sect in the Southern Territory of Sangyu Country, showcasing its profound heritage!

"Humph..."

Heavenly Mountain True Monarch seemed quite satisfied with the reaction. After offering a formal salute to Ning Tianyi and Ning Mingyu once more, he turned and glided back to his seat.

Soon after, the second early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator presented his gift, which was somewhat less extravagant—three top-grade Dust-falling Pills.

Nevertheless, Ning Tianyi and Ning Mingyu accepted them with smiles on their faces.

More Nascent Soul cultivators followed suit, presenting their gifts one by one, though none could surpass the extravagance of the third-tier top-grade Feather Boots.

"Humph!"

Lin Xuyan crossed his arms, chuckling. "Nanlu Sect’s intentions to curry favor with Guixu City are blatantly obvious. The rumors about their Inner Sect disciples setting up residence here might actually be true. Heavenly Mountain True Monarch’s lavish gift is nothing but a sign of their intent."

Ning Daoran nodded in agreement.

Gifts exchanged on such occasions were never mere tokens of goodwill. In essence, every gift represented a transaction of favor; each cultivator and the power they represented invariably sought some form of advantage or collaboration with Guixu City.

"Xuyan."

At that moment, True Monarch Qi Xing’s gaze fell on Lin Xuyan. "You will represent our Liangyi Sect by presenting our gift."

"Understood, Martial Uncle!"

Lin Xuyan stood up immediately. Following the principle that cultivators should fly rather than walk whenever possible, he transformed into a streak of tunneling light and arrived before Ning Tianyi and Ning Mingyu. With a wave of his sleeve, an exquisitely crafted treasure box appeared. When the lid was opened, it revealed an elegant jade hairpin, radiating a rich flow of treasure essence amidst the dancing streams of light around it.

Soon, the early-stage Nascent Soul devotee loudly proclaimed, "Liangyi Sect’s gift—a third-tier top-grade ancient treasure, the Exquisite Jade Hairpin!"

Instantly, the crowd was moved.

"An ancient treasure?"

A late-stage Golden Core cultivator furrowed his sword-like brows. "Liangyi Sect truly has audacity, presenting an ancient treasure as a mere gift!"

A burly late-stage Golden Core cultivator beside him nodded. "To give away an ancient treasure for a mere celebration—it seems Liangyi Sect harbors intentions toward Guixu City as well. Is this Sangyu Country’s leading sect finally preparing to make inroads into the Endless Demon Sea?"

Whispers of astonishment spread among the guests.

"Humph!"

An androgynous mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator arose slowly, gliding to the platform. He retrieved a brocade box from his storage bag and spoke in a low voice, "To City Lord Ning and Fairy Mingyu, please accept this gift from my sect, the Cold Moon Sect."

The box opened, revealing an intricately designed, radiant Immortal Dress that floated gracefully. Ning Mingyu’s eyes immediately lit up with delight.

"The gift from the Sect Master of Cold Moon Sect, True Monarch Cold Moon—a third-tier top-grade ancient treasure, the Rainbow Immortal Dress!"

Once again, the crowd was astounded.

Another ancient treasure appeared! The gifts at this Nascent Soul celebration were indeed on an unparalleled scale!

Ancient treasures, second only to fourth-tier Spiritual Treasures, were priceless and untradeable items. They were never seen in the workshops or markets of the Eastern Wilderness Cultivation World, as the demand for such treasures vastly exceeded any supply.

Ning Daoran frowned slightly. Liangyi Sect and Cold Moon Sect both presenting ancient treasures elevated the prestige of the celebration significantly.

Those mid-stage Nascent Soul guests who had yet to present their gifts looked visibly uneasy—what did their third-tier mid-grade magical treasures amount to compared to the ancient treasures now on display?

As each guest presented their gifts, Ning Daoran remained composed, deliberately choosing not to rush. He had no intention of offering his Golden Feather Sword too early; being closer to Ning Mingyu than any other guest, he felt no need to compete for attention.

Eventually, most of the Nascent Soul cultivators had presented their gifts, leaving the two late-stage Nascent Soul elders to offer theirs.

One elder tapped his storage ring, releasing a streak of radiant light that transformed into a remarkably rare spirit grass. He smiled and said, "This is a piece of Heart-clearing Grass—a primary ingredient for fifth-grade Great Pills and Divinity Transformation Holy Medicine like the Ming Xing Immortal Soul Pill. Since Fairy Mingyu has successfully condensed her Nascent Soul, I offer this medicinal herb as an encouragement. May you advance further and achieve Divinity Transformation within two hundred years!"

At that, the crowd collectively gasped!

Even Ning Daoran was rendered speechless. It was shocking to discover the elder possessed a piece of Divinity Transformation Holy Medicine, the Heart-clearing Grass—something Ning Daoran had long sought but failed to obtain. That he would offer it as a gift was unbelievable! freēwēbnovel.com

The other cultivators were equally astonished. To give away a medicinal herb of this caliber suggested that this late-stage Nascent Soul elder had more than one Heart-clearing Grass in his possession. His heritage was formidable!

"Many thanks, Senior Ling Yin!"

Ning Mingyu stood up for the first time, respectfully accepting the Heart-clearing Grass and thanking him profusely.

Ning Tianyi also smiled warmly. "Fellow Daoist Ling Yin, please take the honored seat..."

The late-stage Nascent Soul elder responded with a reserved smile, returning to his seat with subtle pride.

"Mingyu."

The other elder, dressed in deep blue robes, rose gracefully at last, tapping his storage bag to reveal a sapphire-colored jade bottle:

"Here is a bottle of Jade Clearing Pills, containing approximately one hundred pills. I present it as a gift for your Nascent Soul celebration. Though the gift itself may not be extravagant, I ask you to accept it with the heartfelt sincerity behind it!"

The hall fell silent, stunned into speechlessness.

The lavishness of this gesture was undeniable!

Jade Clearing Pills were fourth-tier top-grade elixirs, crafted from various rare spiritual medicines. These pills could enhance Nascent Soul cultivators’ progress and strengthen their nascent souls, making them invaluable treasures.

Unfortunately, due to the rarity of ingredients needed to refine such pills, they rarely appeared on the market. When they did, the cost of a single Jade Clearing Pill often skyrocketed to tens of thousands of spirit stones!

To give away a bottle with over one hundred pills demonstrated the elder’s astounding wealth and resources!

This bottle of Jade Clearing Pills was worth at least as much as the Heart-clearing Grass, if not more!

"Many thanks, Senior Ling Fa!"

Ning Mingyu stood up again, beaming as she received the jade bottle with evident joy.

Ning Tianyi mirrored her expression. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ling Fa. Please take the honored seat..."

Thus concluded the exchange of gifts between the two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, neither willing to admit defeat.

"Do any other guests wish to present their gifts?"

The early-stage Nascent Soul devotee announced loudly.

"I have an item to present to Mingyu,"

Ning Daoran said as he stood tall and transformed into a streak of tunneling light, arriving before Ning Tianyi and Ning Mingyu.

"Brother!"

Ning Mingyu stood up with a smile, her delicate face even revealing traces of coquettishness, drawing curious glances from the surrounding cultivators.

"Oh?"

Ning Tianyi also smiled. "Young Friend Ning, what do you wish to present to celebrate Mingyu’s Nascent Soul achievement?"

Ning Daoran tapped his storage bag. A stream of radiant light emerged, coalescing into a golden longsword rich in treasure essence, which hovered before them. He declared, "This is the Golden Feather Sword. During our last adventure, Mingyu utilized the Sea Covering Sword Formation. If this Golden Feather Sword is made the core ’Array Eye’ divine sword, it should enhance the formation’s power by at least thirty percent!"

"Oh?"

Ning Tianyi looked surprised. He hadn’t expected Ning Daoran to present a Spiritual Treasure-level item as a gift!

The early-stage Nascent Soul devotee hesitated briefly before announcing in a loud voice, "Jianjia True Monarch Ning Daoran’s gift—a golden longsword infused with rich Geng Metal essence, the Golden Feather Sword—a fourth-tier lower-grade Spiritual Treasure!"

The hall fell completely silent!

After several breaths, someone in the corner muttered through gritted teeth, "That blasted Jianjia Old Demon... Such ridiculous extravagance..."

Ning Daoran smirked faintly, ignoring the comment entirely.

"Thank you, Young Friend Ning!"

Ning Tianyi stood up, bowing deeply in return.

Ning Daoran chuckled lightly, handing the Golden Feather Sword to Ning Mingyu before calmly returning to his seat.

At that moment, nearly all eyes were fixated on Ning Daoran. Not only had he gifted a fourth-tier lower-grade Spiritual Treasure, but it was imbued with Geng Metal essence—his resources appeared boundless!

...

"Brother..."

Beside him, Lin Xuyan rubbed his hands together, appearing somewhat shy. "Might you happen to have another Spiritual Treasure-level Golden Feather Sword? If you do, I would be willing to purchase it with spirit stones. What do you think, Brother?"

"No, that was the last one. I gave it to Mingyu. You’ll have to wait for the next one,"

"Ah?"

Lin Xuyan let out a dramatic groan, visibly crestfallen.

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