The banquet lasted for a long time. For humans, it was about half a month, but for these non-human races, it was merely a fleeting moment. As they departed, some spirits, flushed and tipsy, mumbled about not having had enough to drink.
"I want another cup, more~!"
"The chefs from the East Sea are truly skilled. Hey, do you think I could apprentice with them?"
Some younger spirits, brought out by their families to experience the world, transitioned from initial nervousness to eventual relaxation. Some were even a little excited.
"I saw so many dragons at once!"
"They were so powerful! Their presence, their bearing, made even demons' legs tremble."
"My head was fuzzy for the first three days, I couldn't take it all in. I didn't expect it to end so soon… tat"
"Me too, me too!"
Their voices were filled with a sense of longing for more.
Seven-Colored Egg watched the departing guests, then looked back at the room full of gifts. A sense of satisfaction filled its heart.
"It would be great if we could have more banquets."
"Pfft~"
A suppressed laugh sounded from behind. Seven-Colored Egg startled and turned to see the White Dragon.
"What are you laughing at?"
Ao Bai: "Nothing, I used to have the same thought, hahahahaha…"
Seven-Colored Egg rolled its eyes, not finding anything improper about its own thought. Ignoring Ao Bai, who was laughing uncontrollably, it turned and began to survey and collect treasures from the room full of gifts.
"What are you doing?" Ao Bai followed it in.
Seven-Colored Egg picked up a good treasure and tossed it into its storage bag. "To bring back to the Underworld for Master to use." It spoke without looking up, continuously collecting various precious items.
One had to admit, the guests this time were quite generous. These were likely treasures from their respective tribes. It even saw the gift from Ao Su, the one whose eyes weren't eyes and nose wasn't nose. It was three pearl-sized orbs, each the size of a soccer ball. They were crystal clear, with a tiny ice crystal at their core, incredibly beautiful. They were carefully placed in three white, enclosed boxes, padded with soft fabric at the bottom.
The moment Seven-Colored Egg touched one, it felt a piercing chill. In a moment, its claws began to form ice crystals.
"Hiss~"
Seven-Colored Egg quickly retracted its claws and shook off the ice crystals that had already stuck to them. "This thing is quite potent!"
Just as it was about to look at the gift's description, it heard Ao Bai speak from behind, explaining: "That's the Ice Domain, unique to the Northern Sea region. One orb is enough to influence the weather for a hundred miles around. Three can form an Ice Domain, which can be used for cultivation or for raising various ice beasts."
Seven-Colored Egg: "Isn't that priceless?"
"No," Ao Bai replied, "money can't buy it."
"Eh—" Seven-Colored Egg's expression turned strange. "He'd be willing to give away something so precious?" That guy didn't seem like such a generous dragon.
Ao Bai lifted its chin, speaking with a hint of pride: "Naturally. If he hadn't come, it would be fine. But since he did come, he definitely had to give good things. Otherwise, he wouldn't have the nerve to enter my East Sea's gates!" This gift, their East Sea could afford it! Little Dragon Treasure could also afford it!
"That makes sense." Seven-Colored Egg nodded, then casually placed the box containing the three ice pearls into the nearby storage bag. Without looking back, it set its sights on the next target.
Ao Bai: (σﾟдﾟ)σ
Seeing Seven-Colored Egg stop in front of a small sapling with a peculiar expression, she couldn't help but explain again: "That's the most treasured sapling of the Cloud and Mist spirits. The fruit it bears can be used for beauty enhancement or to recuperate vitality. That one was sent by the South Sea… it has the effect of bringing the dead back to life. That one was sent by the divine beast living on Penglai Island… it can create a safe house at any time, estimated to withstand attacks from Underworld Ghost Kings three times. That one…"
The entire room was vast, and there were many gifts. Seven-Colored Egg would look at one, and Ao Bai would explain one. In just a short while, Ao Bai had spoken dozens of times. Each time, Seven-Colored Egg's reaction was: "Mhm," "Oh," "I see." Then, it would casually put the item into its own storage bag and calmly look at the next target.
Ao Bai: "…" Why was she wasting so much breath? What was the point of explaining so well?
Ao Bai put her forehead in her hand. "Although all the gifts will be kept by you, are you really giving them all to Jiang Lin, and keeping none for yourself?" For her to follow Seven-Colored Egg in calling Jiang Lin 'Master' was impossible. Calling him by name was already her greatest concession.
"Don't I still have you all?" Seven-Colored Egg turned back, its expression naturally matter-of-fact. "Do you good people not use things if they're good?"
Ao Bai: "…" While that was true, but… but… Ao Bai's heart churned with a thousand thoughts, finally turning into a sigh from her lips. "Alright."
She moved her body and flew in front of Seven-Colored Egg. She directly told it which items were practical and could be picked as treasures.
"This one, this one, and that one…" Every time she pointed to an item, the pointed treasure would automatically float up. Soon, a pile of glittering treasures floated in the air. Seven-Colored Egg's eyes lit up, and it quickly went to pack them into bags! It said happily, "Good brother!"
Ao Bai's speed in sifting through the gifts did not decrease, and she silently grumbled in her heart. Who is your good brother, call me sister! You only find me agreeable in situations like this, tsk~ you little white-eyed dragon.
…
"Master, these are all for you!"
In the Golden House. Seven-Colored Egg pushed more than a dozen storage bags, which it had spent a long time selecting, towards its master. Its face was beaming with joy.
Jiang Lin accepted them calmly. However, at the moment of acceptance, for some reason… he had the illusion of 'marrying off a son.'
"Starting tomorrow, you will enter the baptismal ceremony. This process might take an unknown amount of time, so by the time you come out, I might have already returned to the Underworld." Ao Bai said that the duration of the baptism varied according to each dragon's unique traits. Some might take an hour, or three to five days. Longer ones could take half a month or even half a year. However, his vacation time was not that long.
Seven-Colored Egg listened attentively to its master's instructions, nodding from time to time. "Master, don't worry, I will study diligently!" Dragon pearls, inheritances, it would learn them all!
"Mhm. Study well," Jiang Lin said calmly. "Take care of yourself."
…