When the Eastern King queried Eddie, he scratched his head, "I guess I was Innate before, but after defeating Tucker and Kieran Shaw, my power dipped a bit."
The Eastern King shuddered in shock, promptly setting Eddie down and adjusting his collar with a broad grin, "I might not reach Innate, but having a son-in-law who is, isn't bad at all! So, when are you marrying Laura?"
Alexander, who had been casually drinking water, choked at the remark. The Eastern King, ever so shameless, seemed too eager to call Eddie his son-in-law.
Atticus Phone and Quintus Xue exchanged glances, then turned to Haye Yew, standing up to congratulate him.
Thaddeus Yen was left speechless. The Yew family's guards were overjoyed, tears streaming down many faces. Finally, the Yew family had their first Innate in a millennium, a culmination of countless generations' hopes and sacrifices.
Despite Innate being an individual achievement, the Yew family had paid an immeasurable price for this moment.
The sacrifice of many, the dedication to the family and the kingdom – all these efforts bore fruit today with Eddie's ascension to Innate.
As the family guards, servants, and external disciples kneeled in emotion, some weeping openly, Grandpa Five was moved to tears. Eddie, once mocked as the continent's most useless, carried on his father Quinn Yew's legacy to become an Innate.
Alexander and Haye Yew embraced, their eyes glistening with tears. The Yew family's contributions had been crucial to the kingdom, and now, with Eddie's rise, there was hope again.
Eddie's patient endurance and secret cultivation over fifteen years were a testament to his resilience, a true blessing for the Yew family and the kingdom.
Despite the loss of the prodigy Quinn Yew, the heavens did not forsake the Yew family, rewarding them with an even more talented Eddie.
"Have you really reached Innate?"
The Eastern King, after setting Eddie down, was immediately cornered by Jean, who fiercely grasped his collar and glared at him.
"When did that happen? You've been deceiving me all along? I should beat you up for this!"
Eddie, with a mischievous smile, replied, "I wouldn't dare deceive you; you know I'm terrified of you!" Jean's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she hastily let him go.
Threatening him playfully, Jean raised her fist, but noticing the elders watching, she quickly acted like a well-behaved child and adjusted Eddie's collar in an exaggerated manner, "You don't look like an Innate at all. How could a big flirt like you possibly be Innate? They must have made a mistake."
"No mistake," Sophia eagerly disagreed, fearing the mere suggestion might make it so. "Eddie, why didn't you tell me earlier... I'm so happy!"
Rue was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down her face.
Leafy and Hessian, thrilled beyond words, embraced each other, jumping for joy. To them, this felt like a dream they never wanted to end.
The guards of the Shaw family, in stark contrast, sat dejectedly, their faces a picture of despair. The Shaw brothers, filled with regret, realized too late the consequences of their hasty actions against the Yew family.
"If we hadn't rushed into conflict, if we'd investigated just a little more, if we hadn't relied on the support from Qingfeng Mountain's elders or called upon strong allies from the Purple Gold Kingdom to surround the Yew family..."
Tidal Shaw lamented the many mistakes that now seemed fatal.
"Yew family member Eddie, as the head of the ten directors of the Innate Alliance, I formally invite you to join the Innate Alliance. "
"Please come to the Xuanyuan residence on the sixth floor of the Heaven-Reaching Tower in nine months on the eighteenth day. This is your proof of being an Innate and your unique Innate star badge."
Nangon handed Eddie a dazzling star badge, its ancient symbols and a moon decoration shimmering like a diamond, too bright for anyone to look directly at.
It was a symbol of Innate status, a rank many dream of but few achieve.
Millions of martial artists exist in the world, but only a handful ever receive such a badge of honor.
The world usually sees the emergence of an Innate every few decades, or even a century. Eddie, as such a young Innate, is truly an unprecedented phenomenon!
Haye Yew and others gathered around, and although they themselves could not reach the Innate realm, getting a close look at the 'Innate Star Badge' was still quite a treat.
As everyone excitedly admired the badge, suddenly, the grim-faced Pine and Crane lunged forward, seemingly intent on forcefully taking it.
Alexander, Haye Yew, the cunning old fox, Windstorm, and the hawk-eyed Rambo, among others, were furious.
Did these two old fools think the Innate Star Badge was something they could just snatch away?
Everyone prepared their most powerful attacks, ready to strike Pine and Crane together if they dared to make a move.
Even Atticus Phone, Quintus Xue, Thaddeus Yen, and other significant figures positioned themselves around Eddie, ready to intervene.
Even the emissaries from the Crystal Palace of the Eastern Sea, the red-haired man from the Lion Tower of the Western Prison, and the old man from the Misty Sect of the Southern Ridge, summoned their battle beasts, prepared to stop this madness.
To allow the hard-earned Innate Star Badge of an Innate warrior to be snatched away in full view of everyone would be a disgrace that would stink for millennia on the Dragon-Tern Continent.
"Pine, Crane, stop, this must not happen!"
Tidal Shaw and Rage Shaw, both Innate powerhouses, rushed out, clinging desperately to Pine and Crane's legs.
"It's ours, that boy at most has the strength of a sixth-level Sect Master, what qualifies him to receive the Innate Star Badge? It's ours, we are the closest to the Innate realm here. Are we, two brothers, inferior to a mere brat? I refuse to accept this. The Innate Star Badge is mine; I have endured bitter cultivation for two hundred and fifty years, why should this boy take what is rightfully mine?" Pine's eyes were bloodshot as he roared in frenzy. His legs shook with explosive force, sending out a shockwave.
Tidal Shaw was shaken to the point of vomiting blood but still held on. Pine forcibly wrenched Tidal's arms open and tossed him aside like a chick. Meanwhile, Rage Shaw didn't wait for Crane to act and fled in panic.
Realizing that Pine and Crane had completely lost their minds, overwhelmed by jealousy and unable to grasp the reality of being bypassed for Innate status, these two once-respected elders had transformed into desperate madmen. Eddie casually stepped forward from among his protectors, extending his hand with the Innate Star Badge in his palm, "Here's the badge, if you've got the guts, take it."
"Pine, Crane, with your summoned beasts and formidable presence like a passing hurricane, only those above sixth-level Sect Masters could withstand being blown away. Leafy, Hessian, and the Ly brothers retreated several meters before managing to stabilize themselves. Sophia, having been guided by her brother, was already accustomed to maintaining combat readiness and was the first to summon her treasure, swiftly and agilely evading, even catching Nangon's inadvertent glance. As Pine and Crane attacked with the ferocity of a tornado, everyone realized these two had truly gone mad.
Just as everyone prepared to engage in battle, suddenly, two beams of silver light streaked through the air like shooting stars, swiftly reaching the backs of Pine and Crane.
A small hand was raised... To those observing, this hand seemed like the claw of a dragon... It was placed on Pine's nape, effortlessly pinning him to the ground as he lunged towards Eddie.
On the other side, the same action unfolded, with Crane also being subdued by a small hand pressing on his nape, forcefully embedding him into the ground. The earth trembled continuously, devoid of any explosive sounds.
But for a long time, one could hear a series of muffled rumblings from beneath the ground, as if ancient behemoths were burrowing below.
As the dust settled, everyone saw those two valiant silver-winged and armored female guards, each with a hand, effortlessly subduing Pine and Crane, who possessed the strength of eighth-level Emperors. In their presence, Pine and Crane were like mere insects, utterly incapable of resistance, let alone struggle.
"Mr. Nangon, these two dared to assault an Innate. Should we kill them?" asked one of the silver-winged and armored female guards after standing up, casually discarding Pine's severely injured body on the ground like trash before respectfully addressing Nangon.
"Let's deal with them later," Nangon responded, seemingly indifferent to Pine and Crane's fate, focusing solely on Eddie with a smile.
"Young friend Eddie, would you prefer to join the Innate Alliance now, or would you like to spend some time on the Dragon-Tern Continent before joining us in nine months?"
" If you wish, you can come with me now. On the sixth level of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, you will have everything an Innate possesses... "
"Personally, I hope you'll come with me, as there's much you need to learn. Starting nine months early might be better than staying. "
"The environment here might not be the best for cultivating and advancing. Of course, I absolutely respect your wishes. What's your answer?"
Everyone awaited Eddie's response.