"Zhong Ming is here!"

ROAR—

The moment the announcement was made, the vast Prince Qinghe’s Mansion erupted into chaos.

The banquet guests swarmed the entrance, each one wanting to catch a glimpse of the peerless genius, Zhong Ming. Many lovesick young women stood on their tiptoes, hoping for a chance to get close to him.

Fortunately, Yi Yunya and Ji Qingyue had prepared for this. They joined forces to erect an invisible barrier, holding the restless crowd back.

And so, surrounded by the adoring crowd, Zhong Ming met Prince Qinghe, who had come to welcome him. He was a gentle-faced, middle-aged man who put aside his princely airs and treated Zhong Ming like a kind elder, warmly inquiring about his well-being.

"Hahaha, young friend Zhong Ming, have you been settling in well at the Commandery Mansion?" Prince Qinghe patted his shoulder, his smile radiant. "If there’s anything at all you need, just let me know. Please, don’t stand on ceremony. Make yourself at home."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. Everything has been wonderful..."

After personally ushering Zhong Ming into the main hall, the highly anticipated banquet officially began.

At the main table, Zhong Ming also saw the Eldest Young Master, Ji Chengping, the Third Young Master, Ji Qinghui, and the Seventh Young Master, Ji Qingkang. With Prince Qinghe presiding and having all witnessed Zhong Ming’s strength, the young masters were remarkably cordial, as if their past frictions had never occurred.

The small talk during the banquet was unremarkable. What truly excited everyone, including Zhong Ming, were the rewards bestowed by Prince Qinghe.

Zhong Ming was not disappointed. To secure his grip on a trump card like Zhong Ming, Prince Qinghe—a man who controlled immense resources—gave rewards that could only be described as extravagant.

First came the conventional rewards: a luxurious mansion situated on a Spiritual Vein node, eight hundred mu of fertile Spirit Fields, plus a massive quantity of Spirit Stones, high-grade Elixir Pills, and several business properties. Such a lavish display was enough to elevate an ordinary Cultivator to the status of a second-rate Cultivation Family. Many in the audience watched with eyes burning with envy.

But Zhong Ming knew this wasn’t all. ’Knowing the Prince, he must have one last, ultimate gift in store.’

And he was right.

Prince Qinghe had little choice in the matter. Although Zhong Ming had pledged his allegiance, there was no guarantee his loyalty would last.

This was especially true since, according to his spies, the six Major Sects had all dispatched their True Inheritance female disciples to get close to Zhong Ming and win his favor. The thought made him curse under his breath. ’Despicable. Utterly shameless.’

Still, though he cursed them privately, the fear of someone luring Zhong Ming away spurred him to bring out the good stuff.

"Guards, fetch the gift I have prepared for our young friend Zhong Ming." After giving the order, Prince Qinghe turned to the crowd, a playful glint in his eye. "Has anyone here ever heard of the Tree of Origin?"

At these words, Zhong Ming instinctively shook his head, but the eyes of a few well-read individuals in the crowd lit up.

"Your Highness, are you referring to the Heaven and Earth Spirit Root that materializes alongside the birth of a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land?"

"Correct." Prince Qinghe nodded. "When a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land first comes into being, many Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects are born along with it. The Tree of Origin is the most unique among them. It is as if it were formed from the world’s very essence, and it holds countless mysteries."

"But its most peculiar and celebrated use among Cultivators is to employ a special Secret Technique to make the Tree of Origin bear fruit. When a Cultivator consumes this Fruit of Origin, they have a chance to awaken a special constitution—one that is perfectly suited to them."

He paused, his voice turning solemn. "In a Blessed Land under the control of my Frost Moon Dynasty, there is such a Tree of Origin. It bears fruit only once every three hundred and sixty years, and only six fruits at a time. However, thanks to the favor of the late emperor, my Prince Qinghe’s Mansion happens to have one in its possession."

No sooner had he spoken than the old butler behind him stepped forward, presenting a brocade box covered in layers of seals. He then slowly opened it.

As the box opened, a fruit resting quietly on a bed of embroidered silk came into view.

A seven-colored light swirled ethereally around the fruit, and a mysterious, refreshing fragrance began to permeate the hall.

GULP...

The moment the fruit appeared, everyone in the hall, Zhong Ming included, couldn’t help but swallow hard.

It was no wonder. The fruit’s fragrance was so peculiar that it elicited a primal hunger from deep within their physical forms. It felt as if their bodies were inherently flawed, and only this Fruit of Origin could make them whole.

Sensing Zhong Ming’s longing, Prince Qinghe chuckled and placed the fruit in his hand.

"Now, it is yours. In all of the Qinghe Commandery Mansion, only you can unleash this fruit’s true potential."

CLICK...

As he handed it to Zhong Ming, the box sealing the Fruit of Origin’s aura was closed. With the alluring fragrance gone, the crowd slowly returned to their senses.

At the same time, everyone found themselves in agreement with Prince Qinghe’s final words.

The fruit’s power would indeed be maximized in Zhong Ming’s hands. While the Fruit of Origin could awaken a constitution, it was ultimately just an aid. The quality of the awakened constitution depended entirely on the Cultivator’s own potential.

And as the man who had climbed to the top of Qinghe Commandery Mansion’s younger generation through sheer, undeniable combat prowess, no one dared to question Zhong Ming’s Talent!

Zhong Ming was already more than satisfied with the Fruit of Origin. But just as he thought the rewards were over, a gentle yet noble voice spoke up from the side. "Young Master Zhong Ming, I hear you recently came into possession of the *Star River Secret Manual*?"