Chapter 642: Returning the Gift

On the Immortal Boat, Gai Hong warmly invited the three of them to sit. Surrounding them were numerous figures, all of whom were at least in the Middle Three Realms. The weakest of them was at the Enlightenment Realm. The only ones in the Lower Three Realms were the maid servants serving the tea.

As the heir of Heavenly King Zhen Manor and a peak Fusion Realm Realm cultivator, it was normal for Gai Hong to have such an entourage. Not to mention that he was the emperor of the Deer Antler Empire. Fang Chen and the other two were not surprised.

"I heard Goddess Shen Ji found you in the Grand Qian Empire and took you to the Immortal Giant Sect, Junior Sister Jiang," Gai Hong said, looking at Jiang Tian’ai.

"You know about this, Young Master Gai? Yes, I indeed left Grand Qian for the Immortal Giant Sect back then." Jiang Tian’ai nodded. "If it weren’t for Young Master Fang’s help at the time, Uncle Zhong and I wouldn’t have even made it to Grand Qian alive, let alone reach the Immortal Giant Sect."

Langya Wenqiu, listening quietly, was inwardly surprised. She hadn’t known there was such a deep connection between Fang Chen and Jiang Tian’ai.

No wonder she was so excited to see Senior Brother Fang. I thought she had feelings for him... But the female cultivators of the Immortal Giant Sect are so... sturdy. Even if Senior Brother Fang were with her, life would be... inconvenient.

Gai Hong sighed inwardly. "As I thought...."

Goddess Shen Ji had discovered Jiang Tian’ai in Grand Qian, but perhaps that wasn’t the sole reason she had gone there. At that time, Fang Chen had also been in Grand Qian. Piecing together the clues, Gai Hong began to understand the situation more clearly and was now almost certain of Fang Chen’s other identity.

They chatted for a while before a cultivator slowly approached and whispered, "Young Master, Langya Da Zhao requests an audience."

Gai Hong instinctively looked towards Langya Wenqiu. "Langya Da Zhao? Who is that?"

"That’s my father," Langya Wenqiu replied.

Gai Hong nodded lightly. "Invite him in."

Given that Langya Wenqiu was a disciple of the Void Immortal Sword Sect, her father certainly had the status to be received on his Immortal Boat.

Soon, Langya Da Zhao was brought before them. After bowing respectfully to Gai Hong, he handed Fang Chen a storage ring without saying a word.

"Young Master Fang, this is a gift from our clan's ancestor. Inside are the congratulatory gifts from various tribes celebrating the cessation of hostilities in the Azure Dao Prefecture," Langya Da Zhao said with a smile, discreetly observing the surroundings.

He was slightly amazed at the sight. There were at least thirty cultivators in the Middle Three Realms or higher on this boat, a number far exceeding that of the Langya Clan's own experts. Only someone like the young master of the Heavenly King Zhen Manor could command such power and gather so many masters.

"Father, the ancestor is being too generous with Senior Brother Fang. When I went to the Void Immortal Sword Sect, I only received 10 mid-grade spirit stones in total," Langya Wenqiu said, her voice filled with envy.

Langya Da Zhao glared at her. "You were only at the Foundation Building Realm when you went to the Void Immortal Sword Sect. How could that compare to Young Master Fang?"

"

Hmph

," Langya Wenqiu huffed lightly, then smiled at Fang Chen. "Senior Brother Fang, please accept it. This is a token of my clan’s goodwill. If you don't take it, the ancestor will surely scold my father."

Langya Da Zhao was rendered speechless.

Fang Chen thought for a moment before accepting the storage ring. With just a casual glance inside, he discovered that it contained over 1000 mid-grade spirit stones.

Not only that, but in addition to the spirit stones, there were also some Feather Spirit Pills and low-grade, profound-rank spiritual treasures. Little Sword was not far from reaching the fifth rank. If it devoured these two spiritual treasures, it would almost certainly reach the threshold of the fifth rank, if not surpass it.

The value of this storage ring surprised Fang Chen. He casually took out a Three Solar Fruit and handed it to Langya Da Zhao. "Uncle, I will accept the storage ring, but I hope the ancestor can also accept this Three Solar Fruit. Reciprocity is the foundation of friendship. If I only accept gifts without giving any in return, then this friendship would be meaningless."

Langya Da Zhao was stunned. "A T-Three Solar Fruit!?"

Not only him, but the nearby cultivators were also momentarily taken aback, and their gazes instinctively shifted toward Gai Hong. In a few years, Gai Hong would be ready to ascend to the Dao Union Realm stage. The Three Solar Fruit could prove to be vital for his tribulation.

Gai Hong's eyes gleamed with intense interest. "Fang Chen, my friend, why not sell that Three Solar Fruit to me? I’ll give you 1,500 mid-grade spirit stones for it."

A wry smile appeared on Langya Da Zhao’s face. It seemed the ancestor would have to pass on this blessing. The elder was approaching a significant tribulation in a few years, and he hoped there would be other ways to help him through it.

"Young Master Gai, this Three Solar Fruit is a gift for the Langya ancestor, so it's not for sale. Besides, you're still in the Fusion Realm Realm, not yet at the Dao Union Realm, so you don't need the Three Solar Fruit just yet," Fang Chen replied with a smile, shaking his head.

Without further ado, he pressed the Three Solar Fruit into Langya Da Zhao's hand.

"Uncle, please make sure this reaches the ancestor."

Langya Da Zhao was stunned. Fang Chen had actually refused Gai Hong's offer!

Langya Wenqiu's face showed pride as she said, "Father, remember when I told you that the seniors from a sword sect act on their own terms? Do you believe me now?"

Langya Da Zhao nodded vigorously. "I believe... I believe you now!"

He then awkwardly glanced at Gai Hong.

"Go ahead," Gai Hong, who had been momentarily taken aback, now smiled and waved it off. "Fang Chen is right. It's not yet time for me to use the Three Solar Fruit. It holds more value in the hands of someone in the Dao Union Realm stage."

"Thank you, Young Master Gai!" said Langya Da Zhao.

He quickly excused himself and left the Immortal Boat.

As he watched him leave, Gai Hong sighed softly and looked at Fang Chen. "Fang Chen, do you truly understand the full value of a Three Solar Fruit?"

"And what if I do or don't? Are you displeased that I didn't sell it to you, Young Master Gai?"

Fang Chen calmly sipped his tea, enjoying its rich spiritual essence that flowed through his body, nourishing it.

The other cultivators on the celestial ship exchanged strange glances. Not many would dare speak to Gai Hong in such a manner....

Jiang Tian'ai frowned slightly. "You wouldn’t really be upset with Young Master Fang, would you, Young Master Gai?"

Gai Hong looked at her, then at Fang Chen.

Suddenly, he smiled. "Actually, if you had sold the Three Solar Fruit to me earlier, I might have been a bit disappointed. But now... I’m actually quite pleased. Let's toast, with tea instead of wine. Everyone, have a drink."

Fang Chen set down his teacup and casually asked, "By the way, Junior Sister Wenqiu, does your clan have someone named Langya Batian?"

Gai Hong's eyes flickered.

Langya Batian?

Langya Wenqiu was a bit surprised. "He is one of my great uncles. He’s right below the Immortal Boat. You know him, Senior Brother Fang?"

"I’ve heard a few things about him," Fang Chen replied.

Meanwhile, Langya Da Zhao excitedly hurried to Langya Xing Zhou. The other clan leaders had already begun to take their leave. Knowing they had no qualifications to interact with Gai Hong, they departed early to start cleaning up the aftermath of the battle.

"Da Zhao, as the head of the Langya family, why are you in such a hurry? Did you deliver the gift to Young Master Fang?" asked one of the elders whose cultivation was in the Middle Three Realms with a frown.

Langya Da Zhao, still brimming with excitement, nodded repeatedly. "I did, and not only that, but Young Master Fang also gave us a gift in return."

"Fool! Return it immediately!" another elder said angrily. "We only managed to get out of this mess unscathed all thanks to Young Master Fang. And you accepted a gift in return?"

Langya Xing Zhou waved his hand, signaling for everyone to calm down. He then smiled at Langya Da Zhao and asked, "What kind of gift?"

"A Three Solar Fruit!" Langya Da Zhao excitedly answered, his tone hushed.

A Three Solar Fruit?!

The elders were instantly stunned. They instinctively turned their gaze to Langya Xing Zhou.

Langya Xing Zhou remained composed, calmly gesturing for Langya Da Zhao to present the Three Solar Fruit.

Langya Da Zhao immediately took it out and handed it to him with utmost respect.

One of the elders furrowed his brows, deep in thought as he gazed at the Three Solar Fruit.