59: The Lord of Qingzhou City has arrived!

Wang Xiong no longer paid attention to the stunned crowd, and quickly waved his hand at the servants behind him.

"Quick! Bring up the congratulatory gifts!"

The servant immediately stepped forward, respectfully holding the purple sandalwood gift box in his hands before Chu Feng.

Wang Xiong personally opened the gift box, and the moment the lid opened, a rich medicinal fragrance permeated the air.

Inside the box, a bright yellow brocade was laid out, upon which lay a spiritual ginseng shaped like a baby.

"Nephew, this is the Millennial Earth Marrow Ginseng that our Wang Family obtained by chance. It is greatly beneficial for strengthening the foundation, cultivating the origin, and nourishing spiritual roots. Please accept this small token of our respect!"

Hiss!

Everyone collectively gasped, "Millennial Earth Marrow Ginseng!"

This item was a priceless treasure for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, and even had some effect on Golden Core Realm cultivators.

The Wang Family actually dared to bring out such a heavy gift!

"This is a top-grade fourth-tier spirit medicine!"

"I heard that at the auction a few days ago, the Wang Family bid a thousand high-grade spirit stones for this ginseng. They're actually giving it directly to Chu Feng?"

"Isn't Chu Feng a Utility Disciple of Tiansheng Academy? Why is Wang Xiong so respectful to him?"

Before they could recover from their shock, Zhao Tianhao also opened the gift box he had prepared.

Inside the box lay an ancient bronze fragment, covered with mysterious and difficult-to-understand runes. Faint lightning flickered, emitting a heart-palpitating aura.

"This item was passed down by my Zhao Family ancestors. It is said to be a fragment of an ancient lightning-attribute magic treasure.

Although it is incomplete, the runes on it still contain a trace of the Heavenly Lightning Dao rhyme. Comprehending it may be beneficial.

This item has been gathering dust in my Zhao Family. Only by giving it to a prodigy like you, nephew, will it not be buried."

Ancient magic treasure fragment!

Containing Heavenly Lightning Dao rhyme!

At this, even the eyes of several Chu Family elders turned red!

The value of such a treasure could not be measured by spirit stones at all. The Zhao Family had taken out their most prized possession.

Chu Feng finally spoke, "Since it is the intention of the two Family Heads, I will accept it."

With that, he waved his hand and put both items into his storage ring.

Chu Shanhe was completely bewildered, watching as his son casually put away the two extravagant gifts that would make any family in Furong Town go crazy.

Then he looked at the two Family Heads, who were almost subservient in their respect for Chu Feng, and his mind couldn't process it.

"Brother Wang, Brother Zhao, what... what do you mean by this?"

Upon hearing this, the fawning smile on Wang Xiong's face immediately turned serious.

He took a step forward and actually bowed deeply to his old rival, Chu Shanhe, his tone filled with sincerity, and even a hint of imperceptible fear.

"Brother Chu, in the past, I, Wang Xiong, was blinded by greed and offended you many times. I hope Brother Chu... can be magnanimous."

As soon as these words came out, Chu Shanhe and the Chu Family elders behind him were even more stunned!

Who was Wang Xiong?

He was the notorious 'smiling tiger' of Furong Town, ruthless in his methods, meticulous in his calculations. In the past, he had not hesitated to play dirty tricks on the Chu Family to compete for resources.

The open and secret confrontations between the two families were countless. When had they ever seen him so humble?

However, Wang Xiong's next words made the Chu Family members' souls tremble even more.

Wang Xiong straightened up, his face solemn, and said,

"From today onwards, all the medicinal fields and mine businesses under my Wang Family will follow the Chu Family's lead!"

Dead silence!

Absolute dead silence!

If the apology just now only shocked everyone, then the phrase "follow the Chu Family's lead" completely shattered everyone's perception.

Chu Shanhe's mouth hung open, but he couldn't utter a single word.

If he wasn't dreaming, then Wang Xiong had gone mad.

Several elders looked at each other, their eyes filled with horror.

They knew Wang Xiong too well. This person would not do anything without profit, and was shrewd to the core. How could he make such a decision that fundamentally harmed his family?

Unless... unless he had a reason he couldn't refuse, a reason that made him so terrified he had to offer everything to seek forgiveness.

Everyone's gaze slowly turned to Chu Feng once again. To what astonishing height had he reached to make Wang Xiong so terrified and fawning?

Chu Yunhai's face was no longer pale but completely ashen.

He looked at Wang Xiong, who was bowing subserviently to Chu Shanhe, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.

"Brother Chu, you have a good son!" Zhao Tianhao's tone was full of envy and even a hint of jealousy. "The Chu Family has produced a dragon!"

Compared to Chu Feng's current status and position, the past struggles of the various great families seemed utterly ridiculous!

Just as the Chu Family members were full of questions, wanting to grab Chu Feng and get a clear explanation, the announcement outside the mansion gate sounded again.

"Family Head Tian has arrived—"

Everyone trembled violently!

Tian Wenyuan had also come!

The Tian Family's usual arrogant demeanor had made their relationship even more distant than with the Wang and Zhao families.

They instinctively looked at Chu Feng again, all at once. Was the Tian Family also here for Chu Feng?

As soon as this thought arose, they saw Tian Wenyuan, who usually cared most about ostentation, now somewhat flustered as he rushed into the courtyard.

"Brother Chu!"

However, when he saw Chu Feng in the courtyard, he seemed to be struck by a bolt of lightning, his body suddenly went limp, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

He managed to steady himself, completely disregarding his image, and ran all the way to Chu Feng.

Thump!

To everyone's shocked gaze, Tian Wenyuan's knees suddenly went weak, and he knelt heavily before Chu Feng.

The sound of his knees hitting the ground was clearly audible, making everyone's hearts jump.

"Young Master Chu!"

Tian Wenyuan's voice was tearful, and he actually touched his head to the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

"My daughter Ling'er was young and ignorant, and she offended Young Master many times at Tiansheng Academy. It is my fault for not teaching my daughter properly."

He raised his head, his forehead already red and bruised, his eyes full of pleading.

"Please, Young Master, be magnanimous and don't stoop to her level. Just treat her... just treat her like a fart and let her go."

Everyone's jaws dropped to the ground. This scene, compared to the respect shown by Wang Xiong and Zhao Tianhao, had a hundred times stronger impact.

A dignified family head, in broad daylight, knelt and kowtowed to a young junior, humiliating himself to this extent?

The Chu Family members only felt their scalps tingle, their brains buzzing, completely unable to comprehend this unimaginable scene before them.

What on earth had Chu Feng done to scare Tian Wenyuan into such a state?

Tian Wenyuan's heart, however, was filled with bitterness. He had some connections in the capital, and when he received an urgent message, he learned what foolish things his precious daughter had done at Tiansheng Academy and what fate she had met.

Cleaning the latrines of Jade Balance Hall every day was simply like pressing the Tian Family's face into a latrine pit and trampling on it.

He dared not hope that Chu Feng would forgive her. He only wished to exchange for his daughter's release from such a bitter punishment. Even being expelled back to Furong Town would be a thousand times better than sweeping latrines at the academy.

He knew that begging Chu Feng directly would be useless, so he could only come to the Chu Family to find Chu Shanhe.

Who would have thought that Chu Feng was actually at the Chu Family?

Tian Wenyuan trembled as he pointed to the spiritual wood basin being carried in behind him, and said respectfully,

"This is the foundation of my Tian Family's establishment. I am willing to offer it to Young Master Chu."

moonlight dew condensing vine!

Upon seeing this vine, the entire Chu Family completely erupted.

Wang Xiong and Zhao Tianhao gasped sharply, their eyes instantly turning red, staring intently at the spiritual plant in the basin.

"The Tian Family actually dared to uproot one of these!"

Chu Shanhe and all the Chu Family elders were as if struck by a body-fixing spell, their eyes filled with shock.

The Tian Family had been able to stand firm in Furong Town for a thousand years, even subtly surpassing the other three families, all because of the moonlight dew condensing vine.

Legend has it that this vine is a spiritual root of heaven and earth, capable of automatically absorbing moonlight and spiritual energy. Every month, several drops of moonlight spiritual liquid would condense on the vine.

This spiritual liquid contains extremely pure spiritual energy. Whether taken directly to aid cultivation or used for alchemy and refining medicine, it has incredible miraculous effects.

The value of a single drop of spiritual liquid far exceeds a thousand low-grade spirit stones, making it a veritable money tree.

The Tian Family's ability to cultivate many prodigies was entirely supported by the spiritual liquid produced by this vine.

This was simply the Tian Family's lifeblood!

Everyone knew that the Tian Family had two moonlight dew condensing vines. Now, offering one would greatly reduce the family's foundation.

This price was far more painful than offering any other precious treasure. This was not merely an apology; this was exchanging the family's future for Chu Feng's forgiveness.

Tian Wenyuan's heart was cut like a knife, his facial muscles twitching. Offering this item hurt more than cutting off his own flesh.

But he had no choice. Only by offering a treasure that even Chu Feng could not ignore could he possibly appease Chu Feng's anger and secure a glimmer of hope for his daughter and his family.

Of course, if they could turn hostility into friendship, that would be even better.

"This vine produces spiritual liquid every month. Although not much, it is a steady stream, which may be slightly beneficial to Young Master's cultivation."

Everyone's gaze once again focused on Chu Feng. Only heavy breathing remained in the entire Chu Family.

This gift was too heavy, so heavy that even Chu Shanhe's hands were trembling.

Chu Feng's gaze fell on the spiritual energy-shrouded vine, and a faint ripple finally appeared in his eyes.

He nodded slightly, waved his hand, and put the huge spiritual wood basin, along with the moonlight dew condensing vine within it, into his storage ring.

"I was unaware of Tian Linger's matter, but I will look after her when I return."

A casual remark, yet it filled Tian Wenyuan with both surprise and joy.

To receive Chu Feng's care meant that his daughter would have the strongest backing at Tiansheng Academy.

The respectful, almost subservient, attitudes of the three Family Heads, and the astonishingly generous gifts they offered, were like thunderbolts, blasting the Chu Family members until they were scorched outside and tender inside, their souls leaving their bodies.

Chu Yunhai simply could not accept that this Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root waste, whom he had watched grow up, had suddenly transformed, making the three great Family Heads so obsequious?

This must be fake!

It must be that Chu Feng had used some trick, colluding with outsiders to stage a play, the purpose of which was to preserve Chu Shanhe's position as Family Head.

Yes, it must be like this!

Thinking of his grandson, who was about to enter the Bei Ming Chu Family and had boundless prospects, Chu Yunhai's almost shattered confidence forcibly reassembled.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart, and the majesty of a Grand Elder reappeared on his face as he questioned,

"Chu Feng, tell me honestly, what exactly is going on?"

As these words came out, the atmosphere instantly tensed.

No one expected that at this point, the Grand Elder would still dare to speak to Chu Feng in such a tone.

Chu Feng slowly turned his head and retorted,

"By what right do you ask me to explain?"

Chu Yunhai was choked by this impolite retort, his face instantly turning liver-colored.

"Just because I am the Chu Family Grand Elder, just because I am your elder!"

His hair stood on end, and he pointed at Chu Feng, saying sharply,

"Don't try to be mysterious here. Do you think this will scare everyone?"

Seeing that Chu Feng was not afraid in the slightest, he could only turn to the three Family Heads.

"Do not be deceived by this child. He is merely a Utility Disciple of Tiansheng Academy, a Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root waste!

My grandson, however, is a chosen prodigy personally selected by the Bei Ming Chu Family. In the future, he will enter the Central Domain to cultivate and receive the Immortal Clan's inheritance!

His future is destined to step onto the Golden Core Great Dao and become a towering giant."

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as if he had already seen the scene of his grandson forming his Golden Core, with congratulations coming from all directions.

"If you flatter this waste today, don't regret it in the future!"

However, the three Family Heads exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a meaningful expression.

In their eyes, there was no sudden realization, no regret, and certainly no fear. Instead, a peculiar expression emerged.

Regret flattering Chu Feng?

In Chu Yunhai's view, his grandson's highest potential was to reach the Golden Core Realm.

Little did he know, Chu Feng had already formed his Golden Core.

The endpoint that Chu Hongxuan might never reach in his life was merely Chu Feng's starting point.

The three shook their heads, not even bothering to say another word to Chu Yunhai, their eyes as if looking at an incorrigible fool.

Chu Shanhe could no longer hold back. He pulled Chu Feng aside and asked urgently,

"What exactly is going on?"

However, just as Chu Feng was about to explain, the old servant's voice outside the mansion gate sounded again.

But this time, the voice was no longer surprised, but trembled to the point of almost cracking.

"The City Lord of Qingzhou City has arrived!!!"