"Not happy?"
Xu Yi watched the last of the Jian family disciples leave after presenting their birthday gifts, then turned to see Wang Yang looking dejected.
"No," Wang Yang replied glumly.
"Hm?"
"Alright, maybe a little." Wang Yang looked up, a hint of uncontainable jealousy in the depths of his eyes.
The Jian family's birthday gift showcase made him realize for the first time the vast difference between the Fire Talisman Sect and the Jian family.
Take, for instance, the seventh-grade spiritual fruit, the Purple蟠桃, presented by the Jian family patriarch. It was a treasure he had only seen in books, while he hesitated even to feed two third-grade spiritual fruits to the little green worm.
The Jian family ancestor and his master were old friends, and their ages were not very different.
The last time his master celebrated his birthday, he had presented a third-grade formation disk he had crafted himself, which was the best he could offer.
There was no way to compare the two.
"Senior, can I really lead the Fire Talisman Sect to regain its glory?"
"Don't ask me that question; ask yourself," Xu Yi replied lazily. "I've said before that doing is much harder than saying. If you doubt yourself before you even begin, I can't make an accurate judgment."
"I understand!" Wang Yang took a deep breath, as if to expel all his previous timidity and wavering.
Seeing the light return to Wang Yang's eyes, Xu Yi shifted her attention forward again.
"Although it is my old bones' birthday today, I am grateful to all of you for gracing me with your presence. Therefore, I have specially prepared three treasures to give to three fated individuals present. As the treasures are precious, I hope those who do not receive one will not blame this old man."
As the Jian family ancestor's voice fell, surprise and joy spread across the faces of the assembled guests.
They had thought attending the banquet was merely about giving gifts and fostering relationships, never expecting a chance for unexpected delights.
Anything the Jian family ancestor called a treasure would at least be a fifth-grade or higher magic artifact, spiritual medicine, or spiritual herb.
"Ancestor Jian's magnanimity is truly admirable."
"We would never dare to blame the ancestor; we can only blame ourselves for being unsuited to the treasures, ha ha ha."
"Indeed, treasures belong to the virtuous."
"..."
The guests responded loudly.
No one was foolish enough to displease the Jian family ancestor in such a setting.
Sister Wang, seated in the last row,'s eyes shone with dazzling brilliance, and her body leaned forward involuntarily.
There were three treasures in total; perhaps one would fall upon her.
If she obtained a treasure, wouldn't that mean she was a virtuous person?
Sister Wang now felt that her decision to snatch this task from her second junior sister was wise.
She had even begun to imagine herself returning to Mingyue Pavilion with the treasure, receiving envious and jealous gazes from other junior sisters.
Beside her, Xiao Yi, while Sister Wang was not paying attention, stuck out her tongue and licked her lips. She had only one thought: when could she eat?
Xu Yi had already seen the three treasures on the platters before the Jian family ancestor with her divine sense, so she was not interested in the subsequent treasure selection process.
She snatched a spiritual fruit from the little green worm's mouth and took a bite leisurely, passing the time.
At the same time, the Jian family ancestor took out the first treasure from the platter and displayed it to everyone.
"Esteemed guests, please behold. This is a sixth-grade magic artifact named the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring, refined by Master Tie, a seventh-grade artifact refiner from the Grand Artifact Sect."
Following this, the Jian family ancestor injected spiritual power into the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring, demonstrating its power before the crowd.
"It's actually a sixth-grade magic artifact!"
"Ancestor Jian is truly generous."
"I wonder who the fated individual will be to receive such a magic artifact!"
"..."
The guests' emotions were stirred by the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring, their eyes shining with anticipation.
The Jian family ancestor smiled slightly, infused a stream of spiritual power into the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring, and tossed it into the air.
The sixth-grade magic artifact had already begun to develop sentience. The Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring slowly circled in the air, as if contemplating whom it should choose.
The guests stared intently at it. If it weren't for their respect for the Jian family ancestor, they might have already couldn't help but try to snatch it.
Finally, after ten breaths, the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring finished its circling and swooped down.
As it swept past row after row of guests, sighs immediately arose.
Sister Wang, at this moment, held her breath, her fists clenched. If she was not mistaken, the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring was heading in her direction.
Could it be that Wang Biyun's luck was about to change today?
Under her tense anticipation, the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring drew closer and closer to her.
Then, she watched with her own eyes as the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring collided with the embrace of the female cultivator beside her.
Wang Biyun's eyes were about to pop out.
Why her! Why precisely her!
Xu Yi held the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring in one hand and the spiritual fruit in the other, her face displaying a look of genuine confusion.
How did this thing land in her arms in just a moment of distraction?
Because the Wind-Fire Cyclic Ring carried no killing intent, Xu Yi had not paid attention to its approach.
"Senior, the fated individual is actually you! How lucky!"
Wang Yang had recovered by now, looking at Xu Yi with adoration.
As expected of Senior, even her luck is so good.
The Jian family ancestor looked at Xu Yi, a flicker of doubt crossing his brow. "Congratulations, fellow Daoist, for being recognized by the treasure. However, I hope you will forgive this old man's age. You look somewhat unfamiliar?"
Nine out of ten guests present had been invited by the Jian family ancestor. Especially those at the Nascent Soul stage, he knew them all by heart, yet this one he had no impression of at all.
Wang Yang stepped forward and explained, "Ancestor Jian, this is Elder Guest Xu Yi of our Fire Talisman Sect."
"Xu Yi? That name sounds familiar, as if I've heard it somewhere."
"It seems like a past encounter."
The guests whispered amongst themselves.
Xu Yi also stood up and cupped her fists, saying, "This junior is Xu Yi. Thank you for your generous gift."
"So, it is Elder Guest of the Fire Talisman Sect. My apologies, my apologies." The Jian family ancestor nodded with a smile and then said to Wang Yang, "You are Zhan-xiong's eldest disciple, Wang Yang, am I correct?"
Wang Yang nodded vigorously. The Jian family ancestor even remembered him, which made him feel somewhat overwhelmed with honor.
"Why didn't Zhan-xiong come in person?"
"Ancestor Jian, please forgive me. My master had a sudden enlightenment a while ago and is currently in seclusion within the sect. Therefore, he sent Elder Guest and me to offer birthday wishes."
"Then this old man wishes Zhan-xiong success in his seclusion in advance."
The Jian family ancestor cheerfully expressed his blessings to Wang Yang's master and then subtly glanced at Xu Yi.
This young woman is not simple.
As Wang Yang sat down, his face flushed, and he whispered to Xu Yi, "Ancestor Jian hasn't changed at all. He not only remembers my master but also me."
Wang Yang's initial anger from the gatekeepers had vanished entirely, replaced by a growing fondness for the Jian family.
Xu Yi smiled. Wang Yang was still too young; with just a few words, the other party had won him over.
However, this also indicated that the Jian family ancestor was adept at handling people, making them feel at ease, and interacting with such a person would be effortless, as there would be no worry of him saying anything awkward.
But it also meant that it would be difficult to form a deep bond with him, as one could never see through his gentle exterior to his true thoughts.
The discussion about Xu Yi's identity did not last long, as the Jian family ancestor then produced the second treasure.
"Esteemed guests, please take a look. This is the second treasure, the sixth-grade magic artifact, the Dragon-String Phoenix-Tail Zither!"