The day of the Ye Family Matriarch’s millennial birthday had finally arrived!

High above the vaulted ceiling of the main hall hung Nine Heavens Cloud-Patterned Glazed Lamps. Their spiritual light flowed and shifted like water, illuminating the interior as brightly as day.

Thirty-six golden pillars, each sculpted with coiled dragons, stood imposingly in the space. The eyes of these dragons were inlaid with Rank Four demon beast cores, emitting a faintly discernible pressure that served to deter anyone harboring ill intentions.

The floor was paved with ten-thousand-year cold jade; every step taken upon it seemed to give birth to lotuses. Treading here caused spiritual energy to mist and swirl, cleansing away the dust of the mortal world.

Within the hall, music and dance flourished. Rows of precious seats were separated by curtains of jade beads. Through the light gauze, one could vaguely make out the figures within—all were either direct descendants of the Ye Family or high-ranking clan members.

For this birthday celebration, the Matriarch had explicitly stated it was to be a family banquet only. Thus, congratulations from other powers had been declined, and only the clan’s core members were gathered here.

Among these seats arranged by status, Shen Xian sat side by side with Ye Qingxian in the third row.

This row was reserved entirely for direct descendants of the Shen Family!

“The Matriarch has arrived!” someone whispered at that moment.

Suddenly, immortal music rose, its joyous melody piercing the heavens. Everyone rose simultaneously, turning their gazes toward the purple sandalwood and gold-gilded seat at the head of the hall.

Accompanied by a shower of spiritual radiance and bathed in dazzling yet gentle light, the Ye Family Matriarch—Ye Jingxin—manifested out of thin air.

She wore a crane-feather cloak woven from Profound Heaven silk, her silver hair cascading like snow. A single cinnabar dot sat blood-red between her brows. Though she sat with a smile on her face, a faint pressure characteristic of the Nascent Soul Realm circulated around her, making it difficult for anyone to look her directly in the eye.

The hall fell instantly silent, save for the lingering strains of immortal music and the mist-like spiritual glow.

Matriarch Ye Jingxin’s gaze slowly swept over the assembly. Though her face bore a kindly smile, her eyes seemed to hold depths like an unfathomable pool. No one dared meet her gaze.

She lightly tapped her fingertip on the armrest. An invisible ripple spread out, and instantly, the ten thousand spirit lamps in the hall brightened by three degrees, making the cold jade floor shimmer with iridescent light.

“Be seated,” the Matriarch said, her voice warm yet carrying an indisputable authority.

Everyone chorused their assent and took their seats.

Then, the Head of the Ye Family was the first to rise. With a flick of his sleeve, a square purple sandalwood box materialized before him. The characters for “Longevity Extension” were carved into its surface, with faint spiritual patterns flowing across it.

“On this millennial birthday of our Matriarch,” he said respectfully, “this junior offers a single five-hundred-year Purple Jade Ginseng. This item grows in the frozen lands of the Western Region. It can extend one’s lifespan by thirty years and stabilize a Nascent Soul foundation.”

Those in the hall nodded slightly.

While Purple Jade Ginseng was not a peerless treasure, for a Nascent Soul cultivator, items that extended lifespan were never unwelcome.

Ye Jingxin accepted the wooden box and gave a slight nod. “Not bad.”

The clan’s Grand Elder then rose and presented a set of cyan jade tea utensils. The surface of the teapot was carved with the characters for “Tranquil Heart,” and a faint mist of spiritual energy coiled around its spout.

“This is a Heart-Clearing Jade Teapot,” he announced. “Carved from thousand-year warm jade and paired with specially crafted spirit tea, it can assist our venerable ancestor in maintaining clarity of mind during cultivation.”

The old Matriarch accepted the teapot. Clear spring water automatically welled up inside it, and an exquisite tea fragrance wafted out. She nodded slightly again. “The Grand Elder is thoughtful.”

…

One extraordinary gift after another was presented. Each item had been meticulously selected and offered with great solemnity.

It demonstrated the Matriarch’s absolute standing within the family.

Soon, all the senior elders had finished presenting their gifts. Next came the younger generation…

Ye Wuque, the Ye Family’s direct eldest son, stepped forward and produced a small sword that was crimson throughout. “This junior chanced upon this ‘Crimson Flame Sword Embryo.’ Though not yet fully formed, it has already nurtured a nascent sword spirit. I humbly request our Matriarch’s guidance.”

Ye Jingxin took the small sword. She lightly flicked its body with her fingertip, and immediately a clear and melodious sword cry resonated through the hall. “Not bad,” she said. “Given time, it can become a superior-grade magic treasure.”

Second Young Lady Ye Wanying gave an elegant bow and presented an ice-jade box. “This junior painstakingly sought out a single thousand-year Snow Soul Pearl. It can assist our Matriarch in calming her heart and resisting inner demons.”

As gift after gift was presented, the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly lively.

The gifts from the younger generation were not earth-shattering treasures, but each was perfectly appropriate—displaying the Ye Family’s profound heritage while avoiding excessive ostentation…

One descendant after another finished presenting their gifts. Soon, it would be Ye Qingxian’s turn.

Or more accurately, it would be Shen Xian’s turn.

Everyone knew that while the Ye Family had declined congratulatory gifts from other powers for this birthday celebration, they had not refused those from the Shen Family.

On one hand, this was because the two families were allies with deep ties. On the other hand… the Shen Family’s direct son was now their son-in-law.

Everyone was curious about what gift this premier great clan would present.

All eyes fell upon them.

Ye Qingxian remained impassive. Shen Xian prepared to rise and present the spirit treasure he had prepared.

However…

Right at that moment, heavy footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the hall.

Immediately after, four Ye Family servants entered carrying an enormous purple sandalwood chest between them. Intricate talismanic patterns were carved on its surface, with faint spiritual light flowing across them… and among them, one character stood out prominently: “Shen.”

Was this… the Shen Family’s gift?

Everyone looked at Shen Xian.

Shen Xian’s expression tightened slightly; he clearly hadn’t anticipated this scene either.

“And this is?” Matriarch Ye Jingxin’s gaze shifted slightly as she spoke slowly.

Ye Mingyuan rose with a hearty chuckle and cupped his hands respectfully. “Matriarch,” he said smoothly, “the Shen Family has come from afar; their congratulatory gift naturally cannot be treated lightly. However… Third Young Master Shen is new here and not yet fully familiar with our clan’s customs. So, I took it upon myself to have his gift brought up first.”

To prevent any unexpected incidents… he had sent people to retrieve this gift ahead of time.

Ye Jingxin looked at Shen Xian.

Shen Xian could only step forward into the center of the hall.

Today he wore luxurious robes in shades of blue and white that seemed simple yet could not conceal his noble bearing. Paired with his handsome features… he was quite striking.

“Matriarch,” he said with a bow that was neither subservient nor arrogant, “this is indeed my Shen Family’s gift.”

“In that case,” Liu Hong’er’s voice rang out clearly from among the crowd before anyone else could speak—a voice laced with barely concealed glee—”why don’t we open it up for everyone to see? We’re all so very eager!”

She already knew exactly what was going on behind the scenes; now she just waited eagerly for this so-called direct son of a great clan to make an utter fool of himself so she could get revenge for her earlier humiliation!

Her words immediately drew agreement from others who clamored loudly, wanting to see what the gift was. These people all had some connection or another backing them, linked back to Ye Mingyuan, which made them particularly enthusiastic right now…

Meanwhile, seated serenely upon her throne above them all, Matriarch Ye Jingxin watched Shen Xian closely, wearing an enigmatic half-smile. Her clear, penetrating eyes seemed to see through everything as she spoke slowly: “Very well then… let us take a look indeed.”

Without waiting for Shen Xian’s consent, the servants directly opened the chest wide!

Amidst another flash of spiritual light, the various gifts within became visible one by one…

But very quickly, everyone’s expressions changed drastically!

The quality of these gifts turned out to be astonishingly poor—completely unlike anything a premier great clan should be capable of producing. It practically seemed like an intentional insult toward the Ye Family itself!

Among them… there was even one item resembling a “coffin”-shaped treasure?!

Presenting a coffin during a birthday celebration?! Such intent was truly heinous!!

Fury erupted among the assembly!

“Heh…” Ye Mingyuan rose slowly, now wearing an expression of false regret, yet his eyes glittered with cold malice. “Third Young Master Shen… is this really your Shen Family’s sincerity? For our Matriarch’s millennial birthday… you present such… trash?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but each word cut like a knife straight toward Shen Xian!

SLAM!

A Ye Family branch elder suddenly slammed his hand down upon the table, rising with eyes wide in fury. “The Shen Family goes too far!! Presenting a coffin on this sacred day?! Are you cursing our Ye Family Matriarch to an early death?!”

“Outrageous!!” Another direct-line Ye descendant shouted sharply. “Shen Xian! Your Shen Family is supposedly a prestigious noble clan! How dare you insult our Ye Family like this?!”

Instantly, the hall exploded into chaos…

“What is the meaning of this?! Does your Shen Family think our Ye Family is easy to bully?!”

“A mere live-in son-in-law dares act so arrogantly?!”

“If you do not give our Ye Family an explanation today—this matter will not end here!!”

…

Liu Hong’er seized the chance to fan the flames further, covering her mouth with a delicate laugh. “Oh my~ Third Young Master Shen… could it be your prestigious Shen Family has fallen so low it cannot even afford proper meals anymore? Not even decent congratulatory gifts can be produced?”

Her words immediately drew roars of derisive laughter from many!

“Haha! That title of ‘Premier Great Clan of Azure Province’—does your Shen Family really deserve it?!”

“This Shen Xian truly is useless trash! Can’t even prepare proper gifts!”

“Daring to curse our Matriarch—he should be seized immediately!”

“Someone like him deserves to be called a direct son?!”

Mockery, scornful laughter, and furious curses… all surged toward Shen Xian like an unstoppable tidal wave!!