Chapter 351: Unveiling the Gift
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Ming Lang was puzzled.
A Top-Grade Spirit Stone—how did the conversation suddenly shift to her little stones?
“I haven’t opened it yet. Once I’m done with my tasks, I’ll take a look. I promise to appreciate it carefully.” Ming Lang solemnly assured. A child might not grasp the weight of a gift, but sincerity was priceless.
She thought of how Lu Chao Chao had traveled a thousand miles with over ten ornate boxes, only to have gifted three of them.
Ming Lang felt a pang of heartache.
One for her father, one for the Yue family, and the last—acquired because she feared Chao Chao would be upset.
Lu Chao Chao blinked her big eyes. “Dun’ forget! Remember to open it.”
“Mmm, give it to your Old Ancestor to see. Maybe they’ll like it,” the little one reminded.
Ming Lang nodded dismissively, “Sure, sure.”
[As if! Bringing little stones before the Old Ancestor? I’d get beaten to death by my father.]
Half an hour later.
Ming Lang finally returned to the dining hall with the others.
As expected, before she even entered, an enticing aroma greeted her.
“Wow, smells so good!” Xie Yu Zhou exclaimed, drooling. “Had I known, I’d have caught a few more.”
Ming Lang felt her heart ache.
“Why aren’t my parents here yet?” She had already sent someone to invite them, yet the dining hall remained empty.
Just as she spoke, a young clan member rushed in, his face full of terror.
“Big Brother, hurry! The Old Ancestor is about to fade!”
At these words, Ming Lang and her siblings turned pale.
“What happened?”
The young clan member was on the verge of tears. “Our Old Ancestor is different from others. They are not truly present in this realm.”
“Only by nourishing them with spirit stones can their form be maintained.”
“Our spirit stones ran out three years ago. These past years…” Tears streamed down the young one’s face as he wiped them away frantically.
“The clan has been using spirit blood to sustain them.”
“Last time, the Second Elder led a rebellion, hoping to force the Old Ancestor’s demise and claim the Ming Family for himself!”
“Fortunately, the divine granted us power.”
“But it only prolonged things for a few months.”
Ming Lang, who had stepped out the door, quickly turned back. “Princess Zhao Yang, please have your meal first. Afterward, the attendants will lead you to your chambers. I must take my leave.”
With that, she hurriedly departed.
Lu Chao Chao and Xie Yu Zhou, two children, sat before the feast.
“Is the Old Ancestor starving?” Xie Yu Zhou asked bluntly.
Lu Chao Chao shook her head. “It’s a spirit guarding the Ming Family. It doesn’t exactly starve…”
“If it were, there’d be a banquet when it died. But there isn’t one, so—”
“Then shall we eat first?” Xie Yu Zhou’s eyes never left the food. “It’d be a shame if the Spirit Pheasant Soup cooled. That’d be disrespectful, right?”
Lu Chao Chao pondered for a moment, then nodded seriously. “You’re right.”
She glanced toward the forbidden grounds. [Hmm, it can hold out until I finish eating.]
With no further hesitation, the two picked up their bowls and slurped heartily. Their gazes met, both satisfied.
“The people of the Southern Kingdom might be arrogant, but we have to admit—”
“Food nourished by spiritual energy is indeed delicious,” Xie Yu Zhou remarked, his mouth gleaming with oil.
Lu Chao Chao had many grievances against the Southern Kingdom, but at this moment, she wholeheartedly agreed.
The Ming Family chefs were exceptional. The four Spirit Pheasants had been prepared in various styles.
Even after stuffing themselves, they still couldn’t finish all four.
“Let’s walk off the food!” Lu Chao Chao patted her round belly and led Xie Yu Zhou toward the forbidden grounds.
“Sister, no need to follow us. We’re just strolling in the courtyard.” She smiled, dismissing the maids.
If she wanted, none of these servants could keep up with her.
Without difficulty, she and Xie Yu Zhou entered the forbidden grounds.
At its depths, bamboo concealed the moon, shrouding the area in darkness.
Lu Chao Chao pulled out two Night-Luminescent Pearls, handing one to Xie Yu Zhou. “Here, for light.”
Xie Yu Zhou studied her curiously. “Where did you pull out such a huge Night-Luminescent Pearl from?”
He circled her. No bags. Her thin robes had no hidden pockets either.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he shouted, “I know!!”
Lu Chao Chao tensed.
[Has my dimensional space been exposed?!]
Xie Yu Zhou declared confidently, “You pulled it out of your pants!”
Lu Chao Chao’s face instantly darkened. [This dog’s mouth spews nothing but nonsense! I’d rather my space be exposed!]
Ignoring him, she strode forward.
“Hey, don’t be mad! I won’t tell anyone!” Xie Yu Zhou had an ‘I understand’ expression.
Lu Chao Chao gritted her teeth in anger.
As he chased after her, he smacked into an invisible barrier, wailing in pain.
He got up and groped the air. “Weird, there’s something blocking me!”
“Bumpkin,” Lu Chao Chao muttered, tapping the barrier lightly.
The moment she did, Xie Yu Zhou, who had his face pressed against it, tumbled forward as it lifted without a trace.
They entered the stone chamber, standing silently in the corner.
Inside, countless Ming Family members knelt.
On the stone altar, Ming Xian had already slit his wrist, his blood dripping into the central groove.
Above, the Mystic Swallow’s form grew fainter.
“I am no bloodthirsty fiend. Stop this,” a weary voice pleaded.
“I have guarded the Ming Family for a thousand years. The time has come for me to depart.”
Tears filled the chamber.
“Old Ancestor, we have failed you! You’ve protected us for millennia, and we cannot even sustain your spirit!” Ming Xian wept. He had sacrificed his blood for three years, but it was no longer enough.
The divine power within their blood was too meager compared to spirit stones.
“I will go to the Royal Family and borrow a Top-Grade Spirit Stone!” Ming Lang’s eyes were bloodshot as he rushed toward the exit.
“Stop!” Ming Xian roared.
“The Royal Family has but one Top-Grade Spirit Stone safeguarding their palace. They would never lend it to us! They wish for the Old Ancestor to perish and for our family to fall! If you go, you’ll expose our weakness and bring disaster!” Ming Xian trembled. [Will the Ming Family truly fall in my hands?]
Summoning the divine was impossible. They couldn’t even protect their guardian beast.
If the Mystic Swallow vanished, the Ming Family would be devoured by rival clans. There would be no final summoning.
Ming Lang clenched his fists, eyes brimming with unshed tears.
The entire chamber watched in despair as the Old Ancestor’s form became translucent.
“You all should—”
“Why not open the meeting gift?” Lu Chao Chao suggested casually.
Ming Lang froze.
He wiped his tears and turned. “Princess Zhao Yang, how did you enter the forbidden grounds? This is a Ming Family matter. Please leave.”
Though his tone wasn’t gentle, Lu Chao Chao didn’t mind. She pointed at the brocade box discarded in the corner.
Ming Xian, overwhelmed, had set it aside in his haste.
The Ming Family members were indignant.
Ming Xian looked weary. “Princess Zhao Yang, please leave. This is not a place for you.”
“Just open it,” Lu Chao Chao replied nonchalantly.
Veins popped on Ming Lang’s forehead. He inhaled sharply. “Princess, now is not the time for jokes!”
Ming Zhu, too enraged to care, grabbed the brocade box and hurled it at the wall.
Bang!
The box shattered.
Something rolled out, bouncing a few times.
One landed before Ming Xian.
Another rolled into the shadows.
They gleamed—
Bright and radiant, glowing with spiritual light.
Ming Xian instinctively shielded his eyes.
[This looks… familiar.]
[Maybe I should take another look?]
[Wait. The “little stones” they dismissed… something’s off!]
His grief froze into disbelief. Trembling, he picked up the luminous stone.
His entire body quivered.
“It’s… It’s a Top-Grade Spirit Stone!”
“Heavens, the meeting gift was Top-Grade Spirit Stones?!” Ming Xian’s voice cracked as he turned to Lu Chao Chao.
Ming Lang was speechless.
His voice was dry and hoarse as he choked out, “This… This is the shiny little stone you mentioned?”
A “small rock” fished from the river? A useless pebble no one wanted?!