Chapter 50: Betrothal Gifts Arrive in Endless Succession

As Li Qiumei’s voice trailed off, tension gripped the entire crowd.

Members of the collateral branches of the Li family cast hopeful glances, some even eagerly breaking into schadenfreude.

As long as Qin Liang failed to marry Jiang Xuehan today, the groom would surely be one of their own young masters in the future.

"Having lived under someone else's roof since childhood, how could he possibly gather the betrothal gifts? Forget a month; even if you gave him a year, he wouldn't be able to pull together anything decent. If the eldest miss marries him, she'll go hungry nine times out of three days."

Several clan elders sighed, stating mere facts without showing any favoritism.

Jiang Xuehan worried for Qin Liang, tugging at his sleeve without knowing what to say.

Though she was willing to marry him regardless of whether he had betrothal gifts, if he failed to clear Li Qiumei’s hurdle at this moment, today’s wedding ceremony would scarcely be able to proceed, let alone come to a proper close.

"Don't worry, leave everything to me," Qin Liang whispered in comfort.

Just as his voice fell, a voice from outside the square broke the atmosphere.

"The Artifact Refining Workshop presents one lower-grade spirit weapon armor as a betrothal gift for Young Master Qin, along with a congratulatory gift of ten thousand spirit coins. Both have been duly registered!"

The resonant shout echoed and lingered for a long time across the square before the Jiang family gates, startling everyone with upturned ears and causing them to turn toward the entrance, their hearts churning with lingering astonishment.

Entering with a radiant smile was Geng Zi'an, master of the Artifact Refining Workshop, accompanied by several top-tier experts from his establishment.

"Congratulations, congratulations to Young Master Qin on your joyous union!" Geng Zi'an cupped his fists in salute as he approached.

A row of guards carried in several large chests, placing them down in the square. Aside from the spirit weapon-grade armor, the chests were filled entirely with spirit coins, gleaming with dazzling golden light.

"This..."

Everyone in the Jiang family was dumbfounded, some even rubbing their ears to confirm they hadn't heard wrong.

Jiang Xuehan was equally bewildered, looking doubtfully at Qin Liang, only to find him wearing a faint smile.

It was as if all of this had long been arranged by him, radiating absolute confidence.

Li Qiumei never expected the Artifact Refining Workshop to send betrothal gifts to Qin Liang at a time like this. Could it be that they had colluded beforehand? But that was a spirit weapon-grade armor! Was that something you could just arrange in advance?

"Many thanks, Workshop Master Geng."

Qin Liang pulled the dazed Jiang Xuehan closer, and together they cupped their fists in gratitude toward Geng Zi'an.

After recovering from his brief shock, Jiang Hai waved his hand, signaling the relevant elders to begin arranging the reception for the guests.

"Since Workshop Master Geng has traveled far, please come inside for some tea and rest." Jiang Hai broke into a smile and stepped forward to warmly welcome the guest.

"Family Head Jiang, congratulations, congratulations!" Geng Zi'an said, cupping his fists in well-wishes.

Before the guests could even be escorted inside, another shout rang out from beyond the square: "Chen Da, chief artifact refiner of the Artifact Refining Workshop, presents two upper-grade spirit weapon-grade treasured swords as betrothal gifts for Young Master Qin, along with an additional gift of ten thousand spirit coins."

Boom!

Everyone felt as though they had been struck by lightning, especially upon hearing the words "upper-grade spirit weapon," making their heads spin.

A lower-grade spirit weapon was already exceedingly precious; how could it now be an upper-grade spirit weapon? And two of them at that? Such a betrothal gift was unprecedented in Liucheng, something even the prominent Jiang family had never witnessed.

"Good grief, where on earth did Qin Liang get so much money? How could he possibly procure such lavish betrothal gifts?" People muttered in utter incomprehension.

Li Qiumei was left completely speechless. With a flick of her sleeves, she ordered someone to drag Li Hongcai away.

Things having reached this point, she dared not show disrespect to Chen Da, so she forced a smile and followed beside Jiang Hai to welcome the distinguished guest who had come from afar.

"I wonder if my aunt is satisfied with these betrothal gifts?" Qin Liang asked with a smile.

Li Qiumei felt thoroughly bitter inside, but not daring to question Chen Da's artifact refining mastery, she forced a laugh and said, "Nephew Qin Liang and Xue'er have been childhood sweethearts, young talents growing up together. They truly live up to our cultivation and guidance!"

Instead of answering directly, she claimed all the credit for the Jiang family.

Her implication was clear: I am the matriarch of the Jiang family; without the Jiang family's nurturing, how could you, Qin Liang, ever produce such betrothal gifts?

Qin Liang merely smiled and let the remark slide.

Instead, he turned to Chen Da and offered his congratulations: "Congratulations, Master Chen, on your advancement to a Tier-2 artifact refiner."

The slovenly old man had specially changed into clean clothes today to attend Qin Liang's wedding banquet. In Liucheng, this was quite a rare spectacle, clearly showing how much face he was giving Qin Liang.

Under normal circumstances, the old man’s eccentric temperament was such that he wouldn't even give the city lord any face.

The two upper-grade spirit weapon-grade swords, meticulously polished by Chen Da, were exquisitely crafted—custom-designed as a matching set for dao companions. Each of the newlyweds would hold one, and they had casually given them poetic names: Rosy Clouds and Autumn Water.

After offering their thanks once more, Chen Da was escorted into the Jiang family estate by the clan elders.

Watching the two unite in marriage, Jiang Yutong stood at a distance, dazed and lost, her internal emotions fiercely complicated.

If Qin Liang had lost to Li Hongcai, she might have felt a bit better. But now, not only had he won, but the betrothal gifts that should have rightfully been hers were now in her elder sister's possession, leaving her envious, helpless, and utterly desolate.

"The groom's betrothal gifts should be all we're seeing, right?"

Jiang Chang muttered softly. Hearing him, others nodded in agreement. The gifts presented thus far were already exorbitantly valuable; if there were any more, the heavens themselves would be shaken!

Yet, what one feared the most was precisely what came to pass.

"The Liujin Auction House specially presents two Yang Essence Stones as a betrothal gift for Young Master Qin, along with an additional gift of ten thousand spirit coins!" The elder in charge of registration shouted at the top of his lungs, his forehead slick with sweat.

Hearing mention of the Yang Essence Stones, Qin Liang’s eyes lit up.

Yang Essence Stones were one of the essential materials for refining explosive pills. He had been at his wits' end regarding how to acquire them, yet the auction house had delivered them right to his doorstep. Truly, this was timely assistance in the snow!

"Many thanks, Boss Qian." Jiang Hai, Qin Liang, and the others offered their thanks.

Qian Youcai walked forward, patted Qin Liang on the shoulder, and said with an expression full of admiration, "Congratulations, congratulations! Truly, the younger generation is formidable!"

Shortly after, the registration elder cried out again: "Mo Xiaochi, chief alchemist of the auction house, specially presents two Spirit-Refining Pills as a betrothal gift for Young Master Qin, along with an additional gift of ten thousand spirit coins."

At the mention of this name, everyone turned their gazes toward the outer square. A grey-robed elder was walking over with a benevolent expression. Upon catching sight of Qin Liang, a strange glint flashed across his eyes, as if he were deeply surprised.

"This boy possesses such formidable perceptual awareness while merely at the Spirit-Refining Realm?" Mo Xiaochi thought in astonishment.

Being an alchemist, his spiritual perception far surpassed that of ordinary people, allowing him to detect things others could not.

Chen Da the artifact refiner had already noticed Qin Liang's astonishing perception after becoming a Tier-2 refiner, though he hadn't been overly surprised, having previously witnessed Qin Liang's ability to forge pills of flawless quality.

Not only were others taken aback by Mo Xiaochi's arrival, but Qin Liang was equally surprised.

He remembered that when he discussed the betrothal gifts with the Myriad Treasures Pavilion earlier, this alchemist had never been mentioned.

"It seems he has a request to make of me!" Qin Liang's thoughts suddenly cleared.

Spirit-Refining Pills differed from Qi-Breaking Pills; although they allowed practitioners to undergo spirit-refining once, they carried no side effects and boasted a remarkably high success rate, consumable even without encountering a cultivation bottleneck.

Compared to ordinary realm-breaking pills, Spirit-Refining Pills were eagerly pursued by all spirit-refiners, virtually impossible to obtain on demand.

Yet Mo Xiaochi had directly gifted two of them, leaving the members of the Jiang family in utter disbelief at the old man's generosity.

"Many thanks, Master Mo." Qin Liang and the others expressed their gratitude.

"Surely that's the end of it now?" someone wiped the sweat from their brow, yet still found themselves craning their necks toward the entrance.

"The Myriad Treasures Pavilion presents two Tier-2 spirit herbs as a betrothal gift for Young Master Qin, along with an additional gift of ten thousand spirit coins," the registering elder proclaimed loudly. Like the rest of the clan members, he was growing entirely numb to the spectacle.

How precious were Tier-2 spirit herbs? True to the reputation of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, they gave them away without a second thought.

Hua Zhiqiang swayed gracefully as she approached, clad in a dress as resplendent as sunset clouds that captivated many a beholder, filling their eyes with radiant beauty.

Her deportment was elegant, and overall she lacked any vulgar flirtatiousness, possessing instead the mature charm of an intellectual woman.

This demeanor was a complete contrast to the way she had once reclined lazily in her massive lounge chair, causing Qin Liang's impression of her to shift drastically.

At that moment, a shout echoed from beyond the gates: "The City Lord has arrived!"