Alchemy Sovereign Against the Heaven
Chapter 159: Giving Gifts

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Giving Gifts

"Is it really an invitation for distinguished guests?"

Yang Xu had not seen the words on the invitation, but from the expression that appeared on the face of the maid Xiao Qian, he could easily guess.

"Hmph!"

He snorted coldly and immediately stopped paying attention to Mo Wangchen, turning to Xiao Qian instead, "Noon is almost upon us, please hurry and lead us inside."

"Please follow me, the three of you!" Xiao Qian bowed slightly and then walked ahead, leading Mo Wangchen, Yang Xu, and Luo Tian toward the VIP area.

As they walked, Yang Xu glanced at Mo Wangchen and suddenly sneered. He then looked at Xiao Qian, "I see that the lady has a robust aura. Could it be that you have reached the first layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm? Could you possibly be one of Empress Yun’s or Emperor Yun’s close attendants?"

Xiao Qian, being at most twenty-one or twenty-two years old and having achieved the Spirit Transformation Realm at such an age, was considered a remarkable talent in Yun Country. Such a person would unlikely be a mere palace maid and was very likely someone close to Emperor Yun or Empress Yun.

"Replying to Young Master Yang," Xiao Qian smiled, her demeanor possessing the grace of a well-brought-up young lady, and she was keenly aware of proper etiquette, "I am a maid serving close to Empress Yun. I take care of Her Majesty’s daily needs. Today is Her Majesty’s birthday, and the palace is short of staff, so I came here to assist."

"Oh, you’re a maid of Empress Yun!"

Hearing this, Yang Xu’s eyes brightened; Empress Yun was second only to Emperor Yun, possessing supreme authority in Yun Country. The saying goes, ’before the prime minister’s door, third-grade officers bow down.’ The people around Empress Yun, fearful in the Imperial City, must hold significant sway.

He smiled and then reached into his chest pocket, pulling out a jade bracelet and offering it to Xiao Qian, "This Jade Bracelet is called Warm Spirit Jade. If worn during cultivation, it helps calm the mind. Moreover, because the bracelet is made from special materials, wearing it attracts the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth around you, speeding up your cultivation. Seeing Miss Xiao Qian working so hard to receive us, I am gifting it to you."

Given Yang Xu’s current status, he was not yet at a level to interact directly with a figure of Empress Yun’s stature, but since Xiao Qian was one of her attendants responsible for her daily needs, establishing a good relationship with her seemed like a favorable choice.

"Oh?"

After hearing Yang Xu’s words, Xiao Qian’s face visibly brightened. Being someone close to Empress Yun, she naturally had access to many cultivation resources. However, because of this, she had to spend most of her time attending to Empress Yun, leaving her with little time for her own cultivation; otherwise, she would not have been only at the first layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

If she could receive Yang Xu’s Jade Bracelet, it would mean she could cultivate continuously!

"Thank you, Young Master Yang!" Xiao Qian’s face was full of joy as she took the Jade Bracelet and slid it onto her wrist.

The spiritual power within her body stirred, and the Jade Bracelet emitted a faint glow. The next moment, Mo Wangchen and the others could feel the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, seemingly gathering towards Xiao Qian.

"Mo Wangchen, it’s your honor to be received by Miss Xiao Qian during the Empress’s birthday celebration. Do you have any gift for Miss Xiao Qian?"

Yang Xu looked at Mo Wangchen smugly. The Warm Spirit Jade was precious, but if it could be used to forge a connection with someone from Empress Yun’s side, it would be worth it.

Now, he shifted the focus to Mo Wangchen, intending to embarrass him. Yang Xu was certain that after hearing his own words, Mo Wangchen, mindful of his face, would not be able to refuse giving a gift.

But since he must give one, he cannot just offer anything casually; the efficacy of the Warm Spirit Jade was due to it being a Dao Artifact, endowed with spirituality, just like Zhang Hao’s Youlong Sword.

Young Master Yang had planned to insult Mo Wangchen after he presented his gift, because in his eyes, Mo Wangchen couldn’t possibly offer anything more precious than the Warm Spirit Jade Bracelet.

Upon hearing Young Master Yang’s words, Mo Wangchen turned and looked at him, instantly understanding his intention. A cold laugh rose in his heart; it seemed that Young Master Yang was not worth serious consideration. As the Young Master of the Yang Family, one of the top three in the Inner Court’s strength ranking, Mo Wangchen had initially thought him a possible rival.

But now, it seemed Young Master Yang was no different from other major family young masters, unable to abandon their high and mighty nature. His starting point was just higher than most.

Mo Wangchen sneered, looking at Young Master Yang, "If I’m not mistaken, the Warm Spirit Jade you gave is just a substandard product, isn’t it? Otherwise, why would it only attract such minimal Spiritual Energy from Heaven and Earth?"

"You had the nerve to present it. If it were me, I would be too embarrassed to show my face with something like that. That being said, Xiao Qian must have worked hard. I have a little something for her as well..."

Saying this, Mo Wangchen disdainfully glanced at Young Master Yang and then handed a Martial Technique book to Xiao Qian.

"Martial Technique?"

Young Master Yang’s eyes filled with disdain when he saw that Mo Wangchen had presented a Martial Technique.

Likewise, Xiao Qian was unmoved; being a maid to the Empress, how could she lack Martial Techniques? Not to mention intermediate Yellow Rank skills, of which she had cultivated seven or eight types, she even had two or three types of high-level Yellow Rank skills.

To Young Master Yang and Xiao Qian, the Martial Technique Mo Wangchen presented must have been just a high-level Yellow Rank or possibly even intermediate Yellow Rank.

But out of respect for Mo Wangchen’s face, Xiao Qian couldn’t refuse. She accepted the Martial Technique and said with a faint smile, "Thank you, Young Master Mo..."

Then, she subconsciously flipped open the book to take a look, but after a few glances, her eyes widened in shock, her pupils dilating as she took in a sharp breath. Her voice was full of incredulity, "Xuan... Xuan Rank Martial Technique?!"

"Xuan Rank Martial Technique?!"

Hearing Xiao Qian’s words, Young Master Yang was suddenly startled inside. The Martial Technique that Mo Wangchen had presented was Xuan Rank?

How could this be?!

Forget about Mo Wangchen, even as the Young Master of the Yang Family, Young Master Yang had only cultivated a few high-level Yellow Rank Martial Techniques.

Within the Yang Family, there are indeed Xuan Rank Martial Techniques but only one or two, and he didn’t qualify to cultivate them yet until he was confirmed to be the next Family Head.

It was evident that Xuan Rank Martial Techniques, even among the five major families, were extremely valuable.

But what was he seeing now?

Mo Wangchen had actually given away a Xuan Rank Martial Technique, coveted even by himself, to someone else?

Could it be fake? Young Master Yang thought inwardly.