The butler also felt the importance of this Longevity Pill. After putting down the box, he immediately called two experts from the Luan family to guard the gift table, instructing them to watch the box no matter what.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Luan Mingyu, with his family, strode forward and found a place to sit, waiting for the birthday celebration to begin.
The Luan family's birthday celebration followed ancient rites, making it very elaborate. It wasn't until close to noon that the congratulatory ceremony began. Guests, according to their relationship with the family, one by one, stepped forward to wish Luan Daping a happy birthday.
Luan Daping, clad in a birthday robe, sat steadily on a grand armchair, receiving the felicitations.
Soon, it was the turn of the younger generation, like Luan Jiping. Luan Jiping, holding Long Xiao's hand, walked forward and knelt to offer her birthday wishes.
"Luan Jiping and Long Xiao wish Grandpa longevity as boundless as the East Sea and as enduring as the Southern Mountains."
After they delivered their greetings, everyone's eyes turned to them, and whispers filled the air.
Luan Daping smiled warmly at Long Xiao and Luan Jiping. He knew they intended to present him with the 'Longevity Pill' today, but he was unsure how they would do it.
"Good, good children, rise now," Luan Daping said with a smile, waving them up.
The previous young members of the Luan family who offered their birthday wishes received no special words from Luan Daping, indicating a deliberate distinction.
After Long Xiao and Luan Jiping stood up, they were supposed to step back to make way for the next person.
They stood straight but did not move. Long Xiao clasped his hands together, leaned forward slightly, and said, "This junior, Long Xiao, offers Grandpa Luan ten years of his lifespan as a birthday gift."
Long Xiao's gift shocked everyone present. Long Xueying, seated not far away, suddenly shot to his feet.
Three days prior, his subordinate had managed to acquire the 'Longevity Pill'. He had hastily returned to the Long family villa in Xishan and presented the 'Longevity Pill' to the Long family patriarch.
The Long family patriarch, over a hundred years old, had not yet reached the Heaven Realm in terms of strength. For the past year, he had felt his life force waning, nearing its end.
The sudden news of the 'Longevity Pill' had sent the Long family patriarch into a state of ecstatic joy. He had commanded all Long family members to obtain the Longevity Pill at any cost.
Long Xueying, as a prominent member of the younger generation, had mobilized all his resources and ultimately obtained the 'Longevity Pill'.
The Long family patriarch, impatient, had swallowed the 'Longevity Pill', but the result was deeply disappointing; the pill had no effect on him whatsoever.
The 'Longevity Pill' was fake, which greatly embarrassed Long Xueying. He suspected that the 'Longevity Pill' was still in Luan Jiping's possession.
His primary objective for attending this birthday celebration was to ascertain the whereabouts of the 'Longevity Pill'.
It was said that the 'Longevity Pill' could extend life by ten years. Long Xiao's declaration of gifting ten years of lifespan clearly implied he intended to present the 'Longevity Pill'.
"Young man, do you have the 'Longevity Pill'?" Long Xueying asked, stepping forward excitedly.
The moment Long Xiao saw Long Xueying, he felt as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't quite recall where.
Just moments before, Long Xueying had felt the same when he saw Long Xiao. He had intended to inquire about Long Xiao's background, but in his haste, it had all slipped his mind. Now, his only concern was the 'Longevity Pill'.
Everyone watched Long Xiao in silence, eager to know if he possessed the 'Longevity Pill'.
"The 'Longevity Pill' was taken by Old Master Lu. I don't have it anymore."
"Nonsense, there were two 'Longevity Pills' in total."
Long Xiao scanned the surrounding guests and said, "That's right, there were indeed two 'Longevity Pills'. But two days ago, as we were preparing to bring them to Grandpa, some shameless scoundrel snatched them away, right here in this courtyard."
Long Xueying's face flushed. Having been doted on since childhood and respected in adulthood, no one had ever dared to call him shameless.
"If you don't have the 'Longevity Pill', what are you using to gift Old Master Luan ten years of lifespan?" Long Xueying demanded.
Long Xiao chuckled and replied, "I am gifting ten years of my own lifespan to Grandpa."
"Gifting ten years of your lifespan? Are you joking? If lifespan could be gifted, wouldn't all the rich people live forever?"
Long Xiao shook his head with a look of helplessness. "It's like a swan talking about ideals with a frog in a well. Can the frog truly understand?"
"How dare you look down on me!" Long Xueying roared in anger.
Long Xiao snorted. "I don't look down on anyone. A person's status and wealth are not directly proportional to their insight. Just because you have money and power doesn't mean your vision isn't short-sighted."
"Do you know who you are speaking to?" a dark-skinned elder stepped forward, standing beside Long Xueying, and asked.
As the elder approached Long Xiao, a palpable pressure washed over him. Long Xiao quickly calmed his mind, and his life force circulated through his meridians, instantly dispelling the pressure.
"Do you know who you are speaking to?" Long Xiao retorted, looking directly at the elder.
Xue Lianxing watched Long Xiao nervously. The elder beside Long Xueying was at the Earth Realm. If he were to fight Long Xiao, he would immediately be able to determine if Long Xiao was also at the Earth Realm.
"Young man, offending the Long family in Huaxia will make your path extremely difficult," Long Xueying said coldly.
Long Xiao cast a disdainful glance at Long Xueying. "So what if it's the Long family? If you want to bully me with your influence, come on, I'm not afraid."
The elder suddenly lunged at Long Xiao. Long Xiao did not move; he casually waved his right hand and said, "Scram. For Grandpa's sake, I won't kill you today."
A colossal wave of energy struck the elder, who involuntarily lost his footing. Two deep furrows appeared on the ground. A mouthful of blood surged, which the elder quickly suppressed with his qi, preventing it from being expelled.
Long Xiao's casual gesture sent waves of shock and disbelief through Xue Lianxing and all the other experts present.
This was utterly unreasonable. For someone so young to repel an Earth Realm expert with a mere wave of his hand—how profound must his cultivation be? The elder was at the early stage of the Earth Realm; even a mid-stage Earth Realm expert would struggle to defeat him with such ease.
The elder retreated and sat on a chair behind him, beginning to circulate his qi to heal his injuries.
Long Xueying stared at Long Xiao in stunned silence. He dared not speak another word and obediently withdrew.
Long Xiao did not produce any pills. After Long Xueying retreated, he and Luan Jiping also withdrew, returning to their seats.
The birthday celebration concluded, and the banquet began. Guests started to eat and drink. Amu appeared at Long Xiao and Luan Jiping's table.
"Long Xiao, my elder brother sent me to ask you how you intend to extend his lifespan by ten years."
Many people nearby were still watching Long Xiao, with a significant number believing that the 'Longevity Pill' was still in his possession.
Long Xiao smiled and said, "By casting a spell to extend life by ten years."
Long Xiao's voice was loud, and those around him looked at him strangely. In this era of scientific advancement, someone was boldly proclaiming they would cast a spell.
Amu also appeared puzzled. "Long Xiao, can you really cast a spell to extend life?"
Long Xiao nodded. "Of course, I can. I will show you my longevity spell right now."
Long Xiao stood up, leading Luan Jiping to the large central dining table. Luan Daping turned to look at Long Xiao.
Long Xiao stepped forward, knelt before Luan Daping, held his knee, and looked up at him. "Grandpa, open your mouth."
Luan Daping instantly understood what Long Xiao intended to do and smiled, opening his mouth. Long Xiao flicked his finger, and a dark pill with an exotic fragrance entered Luan Daping's mouth.
Luan Daping was overjoyed and swallowed the pill directly. A warm current flowed into his Dantian, and his qi rapidly condensed, filling his Dantian.
Luan Daping threw aside his walking stick, stood up, and stretched his limbs. "Thank you so much, Long Xiao."
Seeing that the 'Longevity Pill' had taken effect, Long Xiao said, "Grandpa, I have already gifted you ten years of lifespan. Will you allow my Uncle Luan and his family to return to the Luan family?"
Long Xiao was Luan Mingyu's son-in-law, and the strength he had displayed greatly impressed Luan Daping. With such a grandson-in-law, the Luan family's prosperity was assured.
Even if Long Xiao hadn't brought it up, Luan Daping would have proposed allowing Luan Mingyu's family to return. Now that Long Xiao had mentioned it, he naturally agreed.