Chapter 1017: Zhong Shan’s Gift

Chapter 1017: Chapter 1017: Zhong Shan's Gift

At the outskirts of Xianyang Sacred City, within one of the Noble Guest Houses, two house masters were leisurely sipping tea and conversing.

"Master Wang, I've had the honor of receiving six red invitations this time, all personally penned by Prime Minister Li Si, making them the most prestigious guests of Great Qin! How about you?" one of them said, taking a sip of his tea.

"Six?" The red-robed Master Wang raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased by the other's success.

"Don't let it bother you. Out of the eight hundred Noble Guest Houses, perhaps only we have been fortunate enough to host more than six of such distinguished guests," the other house master said with a smug smile, though he tried to hide his pride.

"Master!" a soft voice suddenly called from outside the hall.

"Oh? It seems one of your people is here. Could it be that something has gone wrong on your end?" the other master joked with a chuckle.

"Come in!" Master Wang called out.

Soon, a man in a green robe entered, bowing respectfully to Master Wang.

"Has something happened?" Master Wang asked with a hint of concern.

"No, Master. The Right Pushe has something he wishes to report," the green-robed man said.

"Oh?"

"A person with an invitation arrived today."

"Another one?" Master Wang's face lit up with a smile, clearly pleased by the potential for another achievement.

"Yes, but the invitation was quite strange. The Left Pushe immediately identified it as a forgery, though the Right Pushe still instructed me to report it to you," the green-robed man explained.

"Haha! Master Wang, it seems even your house encounters oddities. Who would dare present a fake invitation?" the other house master laughed, taking another sip of his tea.

Master Wang's expression soured as he inwardly cursed the Right Pushe for causing unnecessary trouble. However, he kept his tone neutral as he asked, "How was it identified as fake?"

"The person presented a black invitation. The Right Pushe mentioned that it seemed to be made of black gold," the green-robed man replied.

"Pfft!" The other house master, shocked, spat out his tea.

"A black-gold invitation?" Master Wang exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

"Yes, a black-gold invitation. The Left Pushe and Right Pushe dismissed it as a forgery and sent the person away," the green-robed man continued.

"Whoosh!"

In the blink of an eye, Master Wang vanished from the room, leaving the green-robed man bewildered.

As for the other house master, he was left staring at the green-robed man with a complicated expression. How could one even begin to explain this?

At the Gift Hall Plaza where Zhong Shan and his group had just cut in line, their sudden advancement had enraged those waiting behind them, especially the members of the Penglai Qian Clan.

The Qian Clan had brought a large number of gifts, each worth several times that of other families' offerings. They had waited patiently for their turn, eager to make a grand impression. Just as they were about to have their moment in the spotlight, it was snatched away, leaving them stifled and unable to express their pride.

"Penglai Qian Clan, please wait a moment!" the official had said.

"Why should we wait? We've been in line for so long, and yet they get to cut in front of us?" the Qian Clan's representative demanded angrily.

"Yes, exactly!" A few others in the crowd began to echo the sentiments of the Penglai Qian Clan's representative.

The Ministry of Rites official cast a cold glance at them and said, "Great Qin's affairs are none of your concern."

With just those few words, the Qian Clan's representative broke into a cold sweat, not daring to say another word. Had he lost his mind just now? How could he have shouted at a Great Qin official? But the humiliation was hard to swallow—so many people were watching, and they had been cut in line without even being allowed to complain. This frustration would surely become a source of ridicule among many families.

Unable to direct his anger at the official, the Qian Clan's representative redirected his resentment toward Zhong Shan and his group. A cold smile flashed in his eyes as he thought, Let's see what kind of treasure you have that could surpass what our Qian Clan has offered.

"Please, proceed," the official said, gesturing toward Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan nodded in response.

"Should we offer something as well?" the East Sea Dragon Prince whispered, clearly feeling the pressure after the embarrassment at the Noble Guest House. The situation back there had been relatively private, but here they were surrounded by layers upon layers of onlookers.

"No need. This is my gift to Great Qin. It has nothing to do with you," Zhong Shan replied, shaking his head.

Reaching into his sleeve, Zhong Shan pulled out a long, rectangular box.

Back at the Gift Hall Plaza where Zhong Shan's gift had caused an uproar, the laughter and mockery felt like daggers to the hearts of the Four Seas Dragon Princes. They were filled with a sense of deep embarrassment.

I offered to provide a valuable treasure, but you refused. Now you've presented a piece of calligraphy—how can I ever show my face again?

"Haha! A piece of calligraphy! Your own calligraphy! Who do you think you are? Do you think you're a Saint?" the Qian Clan's representative laughed loudly.

Zhong Shan ignored the jeers and looked calmly at the ceremonial officer. "What do you think this calligraphy is worth?"

The Four Seas Dragon Princes were on the verge of covering their faces in shame. How could this be happening? In the world of cultivation, ancient calligraphy is worthless, especially if it's written by a nobody.

"How much is it worth? One immortal stone, perhaps? Am I overestimating it?" the Qian Clan's representative sneered.

"Silence!" the ceremonial officer barked, his voice cold and commanding.

The Qian Clan's representative fell silent, but still muttered under his breath, "Is it written with heavenly treasures or something?"

Ignoring the muttering, the ceremonial officer carefully unrolled the scroll.

"Wang Qin"

How magnificent is Great Qin? The voice of Dongzhou echoes still.

The spirit of creation manifests, dividing day and night.

Clouds gather in layers, and birds return homeward.

One day, I will ascend the peak, surveying all the mountains below.

The scroll was not just a piece of calligraphy—it was a grand poem, written with majestic and powerful strokes. As the words were revealed, a wave of auspicious energy surged forth, transforming the clouds in the sky into vibrant, multicolored formations.

"What a magnificent piece of calligraphy! And the poem—it's splendid!" the ceremonial officer exclaimed.

The signature at the bottom read Zhong Shan. The officer couldn't help but admire the work, feeling a powerful aura emanating from it.

"Indeed, it's a fine piece. Perhaps it's worth ten thousand immortal stones?" the Qian Clan's representative suggested with a tone of begrudging respect, though still filled with jealousy.

"A single piece of calligraphy worth ten thousand immortal stones? Is that possible?"

"No way! How could a single piece of calligraphy be worth that much?"

"Officer, what is its true value?"

"Yes, tell us—how much is it really worth?"

The crowd buzzed with curiosity, eager to know the true value of the calligraphy. But the ceremonial officer, still staring at the scroll, was at a loss for words.

"Well? Give us a number!" the onlookers urged, growing impatient.

Just then, a powerful voice echoed through the plaza.

"Each word is a gem, each character worth a city—this is a priceless treasure!"

The voice was like a thunderclap, filled with an aura of undeniable authority.

"What nonsense! Worth a city? Priceless treasure? You must be—" The Qian Clan's representative began to mock, but as he turned to face the speaker, the words died in his throat.

Two men in resplendent robes approached, exuding an overwhelming presence that seemed to weigh down on everyone in the plaza.

"Thud!"

Without hesitation, the Qian Clan's representative dropped to his knees.

"Greetings, Prime Minister Li, Prime Minister Lü!" the ceremonial officers bowed deeply.

Li Si? Lü Buwei?

The crowd was stunned into silence, scarcely able to breathe. Had they heard correctly? The two Grand Chancellors of Great Qin were here?

"Greetings, Prime Minister Li, Prime Minister Lü!" The people in the plaza, though not kneeling, bent in deep bows as they paid their respects.

The entire plaza fell into an eerie stillness as all eyes turned to the front of the Gift Hall, where the two most powerful men in Great Qin, after the Sacred King, had appeared together.

To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8