Chapter 356

Chapter 356: Giving and Receiving Gifts

Luo Zhen arrived with ease and departed with grace, his presence lingering like a fading echo as he vanished into the distance.

After this high-level Purple Palace master left, Wang Chen summoned Little He to tidy up the remnants and retreated to his bedroom for a deep slumber.

The night passed without dreams.

The next morning, he was roused by the clamorous sounds of drums and gongs outside.

“Sir, a large crowd has gathered outside,” Little He reported with wide eyes. “They’ve surrounded our village chief’s residence!”

Wang Chen was puzzled.

It was the first day of the new year, and the weather was bitterly cold. Who would come to encircle the village chief’s residence at such a time?

Before he could rise to investigate, a voice from outside reached his ears: “Wang Chen, I am Song Wu De, here on behalf of the family head, Song Yuan Shan, to congratulate you on your ascension to the West Sea Immortal Sect and your attainment of the supreme Dao!”

Wang Chen’s heart tightened, and he immediately commanded, “Little He, open the main gate to welcome our guests!”

Luo Zhen had just visited the previous night to present him with the identity token of an inner sect disciple from the West Sea Sect, and now, early in the morning, someone had come to offer congratulations.

Moreover, the one delivering the congratulations was also a Purple Palace master!

He swiftly changed into a purple robe and went to the front courtyard to greet the guests.

A burly man strode confidently into the courtyard, and upon seeing Wang Chen, he immediately clasped his fists and bowed, saying, “Wang Chen, I, Wu De, apologize for the intrusion.”

Wang Chen smiled and returned the gesture: “Fellow traveler, you are too courteous. Please, come inside.”

This burly man carried himself with an impressive demeanor, and his movement techniques were remarkably refined. Without his exceptionally sharp senses, Wang Chen might not have been able to discern the burly man’s cultivation level.

He was a mid-level Purple Palace master!

“Thank you, Master.”

The burly man gestured behind him: “Bring them in!”

A group of men in blue attire entered in a line, each pair carrying a large, crimson gift box, totaling eight boxes.

These gift boxes were neatly arranged in the front hall.

“A modest token of respect,” Song Wu De bowed again. “On behalf of the family head, Song Yuan Shan, I extend my greetings to you, Master!”

Wang Chen’s gaze flickered: “The Head of the Song Family is too generous.”

In truth, he had no idea who Song Yuan Shan was, but the other party’s intentions were unmistakably clear.

Perhaps sensing Wang Chen’s confusion, Song Wu De smiled and explained, “My family head serves as the County Magistrate of Wancheng…”

After his explanation, Wang Chen learned that Song Yuan Shan was not only the head of the Song family in Wancheng but also held the position of county lieutenant, working alongside the county magistrate to maintain public order and handle criminal matters.

In other words, he was a local magnate!

After introducing Song Yuan Shan’s background, Song Wu De began to open the gift boxes that had been carried in by his servants.

The first box was brimming with shimmering spirit stones!

Although the box had a limited capacity, the number of spirit stones inside was not insignificant.

However, the visual impact was strikingly intense.

The second box contained spiritual rice, but not the ordinary kind; it was second-grade Purple Rice.

The value of this box of spiritual rice was no less than that of a box of spirit stones!

The third, fourth, fifth boxes…

Wang Chen roughly estimated that the total value of the eight gift boxes was not less than one hundred thousand spirit stones!

After some thought, Wang Chen said, “No merit, no reward. The Generous Gift from the Head of the Song Family is too much; I cannot accept it.”

He did not know this County Magistrate of Wancheng and had no prior connection; receiving such a valuable gift without reason would incur a huge debt and karma, which, frankly, was not worth it.

Wang Chen had never been someone who only cared for immediate benefits. This Generous Gift made him suspicious of the other party’s intentions.

For Wang Chen’s refusal, Song Wu De clearly had anticipated this; he immediately presented a letter: “This is a message from the family head for you, Master. After you read it, you will understand.”

Song Wu De was also a Purple Palace master, and his cultivation level was even one tier higher than Wang Chen’s.

Yet, he adopted a very humble attitude in front of Wang Chen.

Wang Chen took the letter and opened it.

In the letter, the County Magistrate of Wancheng was very polite, first congratulating Wang Chen on becoming an inner sect disciple of the West Sea Sect, then requesting his help to purchase some cultivation resources, along with some other communication.

These eight boxes of gifts were considered labor payment for Wang Chen.

Over a hundred thousand spirit stones truly represented significant effort!

Wang Chen understood the situation clearly; perhaps the other party indeed needed cultivation resources from the West Sea Sect and wanted to expand their channels of information, but ultimately, they were investing in him as a new inner sect disciple.

Song Yuan Shan spoke subtly, but Wang Chen easily saw through it.

After some thought, Wang Chen waved his robe sleeve and stored the eight gift boxes in his storage bag: “Since it is the Head of the Song Family’s sincere intention, I will accept it with gratitude.”

The distance between the Central Region and the border region was hundreds of thousands of miles, and it took time to exchange news.

Since the other party was so sincere in wanting to invest in him, Wang Chen decided not to be overly coy and accepted the Generous Gift openly.

Song Wu De was pleased: “That’s as it should be.”

Just as Wang Chen was about to ask Little He to serve some tea to this “wealthy messenger,” he suddenly heard a voice from outside: “Wang Chen, in attendance, I am Fang Xiao Yue. Following the command of the family head, Fang Han Tao, I congratulate you on joining the West Sea Immortal Sect and achieving your supreme Dao!”

Wang Chen couldn’t help but glance at Song Wu De—were they using the same congratulatory phrases?

Another Purple Palace master, another powerful figure!

Song Wu De’s expression looked quite displeased; he forced a smile and said, “It seems that County Magistrate Fang enjoys joining the festivities.”

So it was the county magistrate!

Though it felt quite strange, as the guests were arriving, Wang Chen could not refuse them.

What left him in an awkward position was that this County Magistrate Fang also sent eight large boxes.

When Fang Xiao Yue entered and saw Song Wu De, the two stared at each other, ready for a confrontation.

It was clear they had past grievances.

However, they did not fight, as that would be disrespectful to Wang Chen.

Fang Xiao Yue also brought a letter for Wang Chen.

Wang Chen treated them equally and accepted everything.

With many guests, accepting one after another felt completely natural.

After Fang Xiao Yue, several more groups arrived, all there to present gifts.

The gift bearers were local powerful figures from Wancheng, and their goals were basically the same—to build a good relationship with Wang Chen, the new inner sect disciple.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Wang Chen decided to accept everyone as long as they harbored no malicious intent.

If needed, he could always make a list to return the favors later.

After the fifteenth day of the new year, Wang Chen would head to the Central Region, entering the inner sect of the West Sea Sect for hidden cultivating.

At that time, his consumption of cultivation resources would increase exponentially!

On the path of cultivation, the first word “wealth” in the four-character truth, “guidance on the path of cultivation,” was truly indispensable.

On the first day of the new year, Wang Chen spent the day receiving guests, accepting gifts, meeting with guests again, and accepting more gifts in a continuous cycle.

Time swiftly passed, and it was already the fourteenth day of the new year.

Only one more day remained before Wang Chen would leave Datian Village and journey towards the promising Central Region.