"My Xin clan humbly offers this Crimson Jade Talisman as a token of our utmost respect.
This artifact has been an heirloom of our branch family for generations, crafted from the rare crimson jade found only in the sacred veins beneath our ancestral grounds"
"No offense, but you kinda look like you're stuck in something called, um, generational debt. Or wait—maybe seven-figure debt is better?
Yeah, that sounds right! But don't worry, I'll still take your gift! Shamelessly, of course!" said Uriel as she took the talisman, her eyes briefly catching Azrael's flabbergasted gaze.
With a playful wink, she silently acknowledged his reaction, as if to say she appreciated the unspoken compliment—he had taught her well.
The banquet had advanced significantly since it began, evolving into a vibrant arena of skill and ambition.
Different cultivators showcased their abilities with practiced precision, each performance intended to impress and secure invitations to join influential factions.
Meanwhile, others sought a more strategic route, approaching the six great clans with carefully crafted proposals, each deal carrying promises of mutual benefit and future alliances.
The twins, standing on their elevated platform, became the focal point of the gathering, Revered and envied in equal measure, they attracted a wave of attention.
Old hermits, who rarely left their secluded abodes, emerged from the shadows, attempting to claim the twins as their disciples with offers of mentorship and secret techniques
As the banquet reached its peak, the gestures of admiration grew more extravagant. Guests began presenting gifts, ancient artifacts, rare resources, and tokens of loyalty, all laid at the twins' feet in a bid for favor.
However, not all offerings were sincere. Among the treasures were gifts laced with dark intent, sent by demonic cultivators seeking to bind or possess the twins through minatory means.
Such treachery did not go unnoticed. With swift precision, the elders present exposed and eliminated these threats, maintaining order and sending a clear message: no deceit would be tolerated in their presence.
"My Wang Clan offers you a kilogram of a peak Earth-grade Red Scorching Ore," declared the patriarch of the Wang Clan, producing a brilliant red ore that radiated intense heat.
Treasures, items, spiritual roots, elixirs, and similar entities have a ranking system akin to cultivation realms.
These ranks include Mortal Grade, Spirit Grade, Earth Grade, Heavenly Grade, Saint Grade, Transcendent Grade, Immortal Grade, and three additional grades unknown to most.
Due to the restrictions imposed by the heavens, the highest attainable grade for such entities in the mortal plane is Saint Grade.
"This also means we are willing to teach young Azrael our crafting techniques—if our two clans form an alliance," said the patriarch of the Wang Clan, his tone laden with a sly undertone. A mocking smile curved his lips as he added, "Of course, this depends on young Azrael taking my youngest daughter as his first wife."
He directed a sharp glance at Azazel, who understood all too well the shrewd and calculating nature behind the offer.
"Wang Zen such an alliance is not beneficial to our.."
"Hey, you Lothario, philanderer, harlot! Young Azrael will soon begin stepping into the true cultivation world.
Isn't it better for him to start forming alliances while it's still early?" said Wang Zen, his tone laced with mockery.
He looked directly at Azazel, whose speechless reaction only encouraged him further. "His mother doesn't object, so why should you? It's not like you're his father. And even if you were his father, you'd be as lousy as they come—heck, even emperors would pale in comparison to your level of failure!"
With Haniel's approving glance giving him even more confidence, Wang Zen turned to Azrael with a sly smile. "So, what do you say, young Azrael?"
Polygamy may be common in the cultivation world, but the Demiurge clan strictly forbids it.
While one is permitted to date multiple partners, they may only marry a single partner. Those who violate this rule are exiled from the clan without exception.
The reasoning behind this rule is simple: while polygamy can produce many descendants, it often disrupts peace within families.
In contrast, monogamy ensures a harmonious environment where children can grow and develop properly.
If Azrael were to accept the Wang Clan patriarch's proposal, he would face exile from the Demiurge clan.
Furthermore, by marrying into the Wang Clan, he would lose his identity as a Demiurge and instead become a Wang—an outcome he remains unaware of.
"Nah, I'm too young to have a wife. Relationships develop better when they form naturally," Azrael replied quickly, his tone dismissive. "And having a harem? Sounds like a full-time job… Nah, I'm good."
He shook his head lightly, his expression firm. The thought of dealing with another Celine right now was more than enough to make him shudder inwardly.
"You are still too young little Azreal, let father in law explain it a little more," said Wang Zen with a little smile
"KE KE KE"
The sky dimmed abruptly, its light fading as if devoured by an unseen force, leaving the world shrouded in an eerie twilight.
Cultivators paused, their conversations and movements stilled as confusion turned to dread, Then without warning a crushing spiritual pressure descended, suffocating and absolute.
It slammed into them like a tidal wave, forcing even the proudest among them to their knees, the air felt heavy, their qi sluggish, as if the world itself demanded their submission.
"Little Zen, don't get too ambitious," a husky voice rumbled, making the very air tremble. The sky itself seemed to shudder as a rift appeared far above, distant and high, almost as if it were thousands of miles away from the crowd below.
Yet, despite the vast distance, an old man appeared beside Azrael and Uriel in a single step, his tattered robes and shabby appearance giving him the look of a beggar.
"Hmm, these two are not bad... Haniel," the old man muttered as his murky eyes scanned the twins. The stench of rotten blood emanated from his decrepit form, yet he paid it no mind, his focus entirely on the pair before him.
"Let's see what are they are qualifications"
The old man took out a thin, odd-shaped prism and with quick precision, held the twins' hands.
He pricked their fingers with a needle, drawing a drop of blood from each. Uriel's blood was a vibrant gold, while Azrael's was gold with a hint of royal blue.
A hint of greed flashed in Wang Zen's eyes as he noticed the drops of blood, but it quickly vanished.
The drops entered the prism, causing it to glow. In response, the clouds above began to shift, forming a heavenly tribulation, an odd phenomenon that lingered briefly before vanishing.
It was as if the heavens themselves felt threatened by the potential of the twins.
"KEKE little Uriel has water, wind, ice, Earth, Light and wood "said the old man with a shocked but prideful expression , his announcement shocked the people from different factions
In the plane of the Shattered Heaven, being born with multiple attributes is a rare gift, but it comes with significant challenges.
While it might seem advantageous, utilizing all those attributes at once is nearly impossible, especially in the early stages of cultivation.
For a cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm, the process of refining spiritual Qi into attribute-specific Qi is essential to forming spiritual pillars—stepping stones needed to ascend into the Foundation Establishment Realm.
This process becomes exponentially harder for those with multiple attributes, as each one requires its own refinement, demanding an immense amount of resources and effort.
However, talent can tip the scales. A truly gifted individual with multiple attributes gains a unique edge, their versatility allowing them to wield an arsenal of techniques that might rival or even surpass those in higher stages of cultivation.
Beyond this, their bodies often undergo tempering beyond what ordinary cultivators can achieve, giving them unmatched potential. Yet, such blessings are rarely random.
Sometimes Possessing multiple attributes is almost always tied to exceptional lineage, as these attributes may be inherited or passed down from one's parents.
That's what makes someone like Uriel so extraordinary—a treasure among treasures. Even then, the strength of her attributes depends on the grade of her spiritual root, which serves as the foundation of her abilities.
It's important to note that attributes also dictate the techniques a cultivator can use. For example, a person born with a water attribute can only learn water-related techniques.
They cannot practice alchemy, which requires fire-related techniques unless they rely on rare treasures to compensate.
There are, however, techniques that reside out side of attributes, such as sound transmission, which allows cultivators to project their thoughts using Qi—accessible to anyone with sufficient understanding.
Ultimately, while multiple attributes open doors to immense potential, they also demand sacrifice, effort, and resources that only the most privileged or talented can hope to provide.
"Good Good Good our clan is truly blessed, as for little Azreal he has the Fire, Lighting and....VOID Attributes" said the old man as a drop of sweat streamed down his face the last part related to the Void was barely audible as he spoke sparking the interest of other factions
'Haniel, the void attribute embodies the perfect harmony and unison of time, space, and entropy, yet its balance culminates in pure nothingness,' the old man conveyed through sound transmission, his thoughts measured.
'The grade of their spiritual roots is Heavenly ranked, and this is even before their initial awakening,' he continued, his tone heavy with contemplation. 'I planned to test them first and fetch them next week when the training camp for the young ones begins.
The camps are merciless—children often die, and the brutality spares no one. Even for purebloods, five years without instruction is too long. They need to be tempered, or they'll break under the pressure. What do you think?'
The twins, sensing the silence that lingered between the old man and Haniel, exchanged puzzled glances, oblivious to the secrets being discussed.
'How do you plan to make them leave? I won't encourage my children to go there, and Uriel is far too attached to me—I know very well she won't leave,' Haniel replied with a knowing smile, as though she had anticipated this proposal all along.
'The rules of the clan simply state that each child must attend the camp, but only with parental consent—just in case the child doesn't make it. As for your children, I'll simply kidnap them at night, like.. always.
It's not as if we announce when the camps begin, so no parents are ever prepared, and the children can't be either,' the old man said with a casual smile before turning his attention back to the banquet, thoroughly enjoying himself.
....