Upon hearing Shang Yanfei's words, his children were all struck as if by a bolt from the blue, their bodies stiffening in place, completely unable to believe that their father had suddenly produced a daughter.
This was not merely about gaining a younger sister; it also meant another formidable competitor for the position of Family Lord.
As everyone stood in astonishment, Shang Yanfei softly said to someone behind him, "Xin Ci, come out."
As his words fell, Tian Lan was seen slowly walking over, leading Shang Xin Ci. Shang Xin Ci's steps were light and graceful, like a Fairy descending to the mortal world, and her appearance instantly lightened the somewhat heavy atmosphere.
Shang Xin Ci walked to Shang Yanfei's side and elegantly sat down, facing Liu Chen, who was on Shang Yanfei's other side. As she walked, she couldn't help but steal a glance at the seated Liu Chen, and this glance slightly calmed her somewhat nervous mood.
"Father, Xin Ci greets my older brothers and sisters." Shang Xin Ci's voice was clear and pleasant, her tone gentle, like a spring breeze.
Shang Yanfei's children, upon hearing Shang Xin Ci's greeting, came to their senses as if waking from a dream. They quickly composed themselves, smiled, and responded to Shang Xin Ci.
Shang Qiuniu, as the eldest brother, quickly said, "If you have any problems in the future, just tell Big Brother, and Big Brother will definitely help you solve them."
Shang Bixi then added, "Your child congratulates Father on gaining a beloved daughter."
Shang Chiwen was even more excited; like a cheerful little bird, she immediately ran enthusiastically to Shang Xin Ci, took her hand, and said, "This is great, I finally have sisters!" Her face was beaming with joy, as if she had known Shang Xin Ci for a long time.
Shang Xin Ci also felt Shang Chiwen's warmth, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly into a faint smile. This smile was like the warm sun in spring, gentle and soft, making people involuntarily feel good about her.
This was Shang Xin Ci and Shang Chiwen's first meeting, but there seemed to be an invisible understanding between them, and their communication was exceptionally smooth. They got along naturally, like sisters who had been separated for many years.
However, unlike Shang Chiwen, the other Young Lords of the Shang Family felt exceptionally heavy-hearted. Watching the intimate interaction between Liu Chen and Shang Xin Ci, they secretly pondered: if Shang Xin Ci truly intended to contend for the position of Family Lord, then with a Fifth Rank Gu Master like Liu Chen as an aid, it would be an insurmountable wall of lament for them.
Although the Shang Family's criteria for selecting the Family Lord primarily focused on the ability to earn primeval stones, the strength of a Fifth Rank Gu Master was undoubtedly an extremely important asset. Moreover, Shang Yanfei's attitude towards Shang Xin Ci also made them worried. Their father had never favored a child as much as he did now, and this favoritism, coupled with the support of Liu Chen, a Fifth Rank Gu Master, caused a wave of fear to surge through their hearts.
However, how could those who could become Young Lords of the Shang Family be easily intimidated by such a display? After all, the Shang Family was a super force, with profound foundations and immense strength. Even a powerful person like a Fifth Rank Gu Master would never dare to casually interfere with the Shang Family Lord's affairs, let alone lead in breaking the rules.
Therefore, they were not entirely without a chance. Moreover, Liu Chen's attitude was not yet clear, which gave them a glimmer of hope. They believed that as long as they demonstrated true strength and talent in business, they would definitely be able to defeat Shang Xin Ci.
With a Fifth Rank Gu Master as a backer, they naturally could not resort to underhanded tactics, but instead planned to defeat her with solid achievements.
Furthermore, with Liu Chen as a powerful competitor, others would naturally choose to unite to resist this common enemy. After all, when facing such a powerful opponent, unity was the wisest choice.
Shang Yanfei himself had come through this period, so he naturally understood what his children were thinking. He felt very pained that Shang Xin Ci was targeted by her other siblings as soon as she arrived at the Shang Family, and his affection for her grew even stronger.
"This time, we truly owe a great deal to young friend Liu Chen! If not for him, Xin Ci would likely not have been able to return safely to my side. Our entire Family is grateful to young friend. If young friend has any needs or wishes, my Shang Family will certainly do our utmost to fulfill them," Shang Yanfei said with emotion.
"It was merely a case of seeing injustice and drawing my sword to help. If I were to say it was just a casual act and I desired nothing, wouldn't that seem to belittle the Shang Family? In that case, I've heard that the Shang Family also has some tokens equivalent to those of the Tie Family. I wonder if I could be granted one?"
At this moment, Liu Chen had few desires, and his words were merely to put Shang Yanfei at ease. He smiled slightly, casually pulled out the purple-gold hero token granted to him by the Tie Family from his Pregnant, displayed it before everyone, and simultaneously stated his request.
"This is actually a purple-gold hero token!" When everyone's gazes fell upon the token, they couldn't help but exclaim in unison. One must know that this purple-gold hero token was no ordinary item; it represented extremely high honor and status.
"It is said that whoever holds this token is considered to be on equal footing with the Tie Family, and even the descendants of the token holder can use this token to request the Tie Family to complete three righteous deeds," Shang Ya Zi explained in a low voice, clearly quite knowledgeable about the origins of the purple-gold hero token.
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts trembled, and various legends about this token floated in their minds. After all, since the founding of the Tie Family, the number of purple-gold hero tokens issued was only a mere handful, so its preciousness was imaginable.
Moreover, this was not merely a reward that the Family Lord could bestow at will; it also required the unanimous approval of the Tie Family members. Thus, the value of this purple-gold hero token became even more extraordinary.
"Since that's the case, I won't be stingy either," Shang Yanfei said generously, simultaneously pulling out a token from his Pregnant. "This is my Shang Family's Purple Thorn Token. Whoever holds this token is considered to be of the same Rank as an Elder in my Shang Family, enjoying extremely high status and power. Although it cannot compare to the Tie Family's purple-gold hero token, it is the highest Rank token I can offer."