Chapter 260 - 195: The Divinity Transformation’s Return Gifts

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"Are you, on behalf of the East Sea, trying to start a war in the Cultivation Realm with my Holy Sect?!"

A damning accusation!

Qin Xuan completely ignored the reason for the attack. Instead, he seized upon two key points: murder at the birthday banquet and contempt for the Dragon Lord.

He had turned the tables, pinning an even greater accusation on his opponent!

’What a sharp-tongued Purple Mansion junior. With just a few words, he defended his Sect’s honor and saved his own skin. Give him time, and he’ll be a force to be reckoned with...’

The old matriarch from the Southern Border Gu Race marveled to herself.

A dark look crossed Elder Yun’s face.

He hadn’t expected Qin Xuan to be so tenacious, much less that he would dare to use the Dragon Lord’s name to turn the tables, instantly escalating the situation into a confrontation between the East Sea Dragon Lord and the Blood Demon Sword Sect!

If he were to kill Qin Xuan now—a feat easier than crushing an ant—the consequences would be catastrophic!

"Venerable, see for yourself! It was that Demon Cultivator who was insolent first, I..." Elder Yun tried to explain, but was abruptly cut off.

"Enough."

On the high dais, the golden-robed phantom representing the supreme authority of the East Sea slowly opened his eyes.

The Dragon Lord, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. His voice was calm yet possessed an absolute authority that silenced the entire East Sea in an instant!

"Yun Er, you are confined for a century. Do you object?"

CRASH!

As if dealt a heavy blow, Elder Yun grunted, his face instantly turning deathly pale. All color drained from him, as if his strength had been siphoned away.

His body trembled. "Yun Er... accepts the punishment!"

Qin Xuan lowered his head, a peculiar glint flashing deep in his eyes.

Despite Yun Er’s current submissiveness, Qin Xuan knew an irreconcilable feud had been forged between him and the Cyan-Scaled Chi Flood Dragon Royal Family.

’That old bastard Yun Er probably wants me dead more than anything right now!’

The Dragon Lord gave a slight nod. His gaze fell upon Qin Xuan, lingering for a moment. "Young friend, convey Our greetings to Venerable Linglong."

A vast and boundless power, as unrestrained as the ocean itself, swept over him.

Qin Xuan’s scalp tingled with dread!

’Did the Dragon Lord just read my mind?’

The blood in his veins felt like it had frozen solid, and he couldn’t even draw a breath.

’The Dragon Lord is audacious! To use the imperial "We" in front of Daqian’s Nascent Soul Daoist Monarchs...’

The guests exchanged glances, unable to hide the shock in their eyes.

That form of address was reserved exclusively for the Emperor of Daqian.

Yet the Dragon Lord dared to commit such a transgression!

"Venerable Linglong! That’s the title of the Divinity Transformation master from the Blood Demon Sword Sect, the one who holds the station of White Wax Gold!" a Nascent Soul Daoist Monarch exclaimed in recognition.

Just when Qin Xuan thought the Dragon Lord had seen through him completely, the great being looked toward the horizon, and the churning East Sea grew calm once more.

The weight in Qin Xuan’s heart lessened. He knew he had passed the first test.

He prostrated himself and bowed respectfully. "Lord Long Gong is sagacious and wise!"

The Nascent Soul experts exchanged bewildered glances, completely baffled.

Why had the Blood Demon Sword Sect not presented a single gift, yet now seemed to have earned the Dragon Lord’s greatest favor?

Just then, Chen Xuanba, clad in a black robe and holding a three-foot-long jade box, appeared in the hall at the perfect moment.

"This junior, Chen Xuanba, representing the two Venerables of our Holy Sect, presents one stalk of Netherworld Soul Reviving Grass and three Nether Holy Fruits! We wish the Dragon Lord limitless longevity and an ever-flourishing Great Dao!"

Nether Holy Fruit... Netherworld Soul Reviving Grass!

The moment these names were spoken, every eye in the hall focused on Chen Xuanba.

The Blood Demon Sword Sect had actually produced such incredible Spiritual Objects!

The Nascent Soul Daoist Monarchs present had incredibly sharp eyes. They recognized the value of these two gifts at a glance. In Daqian, such treasures could even earn the favor of the Daqian Emperor Monarch.

However, some of the accompanying Cultivators did not recognize them.

The monks from the Western Buddha Country, for instance, privately sought an explanation from an elder monk.

The old monk’s eyes were profound. "The Netherworld Soul Reviving Grass grows in the Nine Netherworld and contains a sliver of Reincarnation Vitality. It can awaken the dormant True Spirit of anyone below the Nascent Soul realm..."

"As for the Nether Holy Fruit, it has a wondrous effect on nourishing the Divine Soul and purifying one’s bloodline. This is especially true for the Demon Race. While a powerful Flesh Body is easy to obtain, a pure and strong Demon Soul is difficult to cultivate. This fruit is of immense use for that."

"When combined, they can help even someone who has fallen from the Divinity Transformation realm reclaim their station in a very short time!"

The old monk did not bother to lower his voice. Hearing his explanation, the various Cultivators understood and were thoroughly shaken.

Such an extravagant gesture.

So it wasn’t that the Blood Demon Sword Sect had come unprepared—they were waiting for this exact moment!

The green-robed Daoist from the Four Symbols Sect sighed. "We were outmaneuvered. We were only focused on the Dragon Lord’s descendants... but these two gifts from the Blood Demon Sword Sect are what the Dragon Lord truly desires."

And indeed, upon sensing the Reincarnation Vitality from the Netherworld Soul Reviving Grass, an almost imperceptible ripple of emotion flickered in the Dragon Lord’s eyes.

"An item from the Nine Netherworld. A rarity... This gift, We accept."

The Dragon Lord, uncharacteristically talkative, spoke again, his voice grand and majestic. "You have all traveled far to be Our guests and have presented Us with generous gifts. We are most pleased. It would be discourteous not to reciprocate. Thus, We have also prepared some small tokens in return."

"Minister Turtle, present the gifts!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Minister Turtle responded at once, "As you command!"

He clapped his hands lightly. Dozens of graceful Golden Core Carp Fish Demons entered in a single file, arranging themselves in three rows.

Each Golden Core Fish Demon held a jade platter that shimmered with a precious, hazy light.

The flowing light and overwhelming Spiritual Qi instantly drew everyone’s attention.

Minister Turtle announced in a loud, clear voice: "By the Venerable’s decree! For the first round of gifts, one thousand Tier Two Top Grade Spiritual Artifacts—Water-Splitting Needles—to be bestowed upon the visiting Foundation Establishment Disciples!"

The Carp Fish Demons in the first row slowly lifted the silk cloths from their jade platters.

Instantly, a thousand beams of cold, azure light shot into the air.

Ripples of a Water Spirit Rhyme filled the air. They were all standardized Water Element Treasures!

They might only be Spiritual Artifacts, but an ordinary Foundation Establishment Disciple would be considered fortunate to possess even a single Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact. Here, a thousand Top Grade ones were being given away at once.

Many Cultivators from smaller factions gasped, their faces lighting up with joy. "Truly worthy of the East Sea Dragon Palace," one exclaimed. "Their resources are simply profound!"

But that was not all.

Minister Turtle continued, "For the second round, five hundred bottles of Tier Three Flood Dragon and Python Body Tempering Pills, to enhance one’s Cultivation, bestowed upon our Purple Mansion guests."

As the Pill Jade Bottles were opened, a dense Qi and Blood Power mixed with a faint draconic might wafted out. Many Body Cultivators and Demon Cultivators shot to their feet, their eyes wide and fixed!

This Pill was refined from Python and Flood Dragon Essence Blood and was exceptionally effective at tempering the Flesh Body. A single pill was worth several years of arduous cultivation, and each bottle contained at least a dozen of these Body Tempering Pills.

Qin Xuan received a bottle as well.

He gently twisted the cap open, and a wave of pure Blood Qi washed over him. Inside lay a full fifteen round, dark-red pills.

The refining technique was crude, but the medicinal potency was undeniably immense!

"For the third round, one hundred pieces of Tier Four Thousand-Year Coral Heart, bestowed upon our Golden Core Fellow Daoists."

BOOM!

Aside from the few major powers that had their own Venerable Divinity Transformation masters, like the Daqian Dynasty and the Western Buddha Country, nearly every Golden Core True Monarch present was visibly thrilled, their eyes gleaming with fervent light.

Thousand-Year Coral Hearts! These were treasures capable of warding off Heart Demons!

The Thousand-Year Coral Hearts came in various shapes and colors, each resembling a beating heart and containing an immense and pure reserve of Water Spirit Essence.

Even aside from fending off Heart Demons, they were immensely useful for a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s training and for nourishing their Magical Treasures.

"You have to hand it to the East Sea Dragon Lord! He throws a birthday banquet, and the return gifts are nearly as valuable as the tribute he receives!"

The Cultivators in the hall were overcome with emotion, thinking to themselves that this was truly befitting of the Venerable Divinity Transformation who ruled the boundless East Sea. His wealth was simply staggering!

And yet, even then, the return gifts were not finished.

The Dragon Lord raised his hand slightly. At the side of the hall, a giant Light Sect opened, and dense Demon Qi billowed out.

A group of young members of the Demon Race, all in different forms, could be seen timidly entering the great hall under the guidance of palace maids.

"Here in Our East Sea, We have a few unruly and worthless juniors. Perhaps you would all be willing to help Us discipline one or two?"