Gu Shanyun was stunned for a moment, then said, "Gu Zhan, I know that you and your father have been distant from the family since childhood, so you don’t feel a sense of belonging to the Gu Family. But after all, blood is thicker than water. Furthermore, if you return to the Gu Family, with your potential, the Gu Family will surely nurture you with all its resources..."

Gu Zhan chuckled lightly and said, "Second Master Gu, there’s no need to say more about this. I’m not interested in playing the game of acknowledging my ancestors and returning to the clan. I, Gu Zhan, am used to walking alone and dislike being part of a crowd.

To put it bluntly, joining a family won’t bring me any benefit—instead, it’ll only drag down my development. On my life path, there may be forces able to accompany me for a while, but absolutely none can keep up with my pace."

Gu Shanyun’s brows knitted together, while Gu Mo had a detached expression,

Only Gu Rou pouted and said with grievance, "Cousin Gu Zhan, actually, our Gu Family is pretty strong..."

Gu Zhan said calmly, "It’s just Pingyang Prefecture, really. I’m only just over twenty, but I’m already a Peak Second Realm Great Cultivator. Frankly, even against a Third Realm Great Cultivator, I could put up a fight. Do you really think I need so-called family nurturing? Or rather, what can the Gu Family nurture in me?

To not be polite, what you all value about Pingyang Prefecture, what you see as your whole world—for me, it’s nothing but a pit stop. I know clans can be greatly advantageous to one’s personal development, but I, Gu Zhan, don’t need it. Besides, the Gu Family can’t shoulder my karma. That’s all I have to say—let’s stop here!"

Gu Rou pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but was stopped by a glance from Gu Shanyun.

Gu Shanyun cupped his hands toward Gu Zhan and said, "Gu Qianhu, why don’t we discuss cooperation?"

Gu Zhan nodded and said, "I’ll soon destroy the Lingxi Sword Sect. I can directly give the Lingxi Sword Sect’s territory and resources to your Gu Family. In fact, any territory I conquer henceforth, the Gu Family gets priority."

Gu Shanyun raised his brows, even a bit impatient. As the Grand Elder of the Gu Family, he couldn’t possibly be ignorant of just how terrifying the resources left by a top-tier power could be. To put it bluntly, if the resources of Youyang fell into the Gu Family’s hands, within three years the family would definitely reach a whole new level.

Actually, the development of a power,

unless a peerlessly talented genius appears, has only one fastest route to growth: swallowing up others.

All this talk about accumulation, about heritage,

none of it is as fast as swallowing up another. Devour the other side’s people, cultivation techniques, all kinds of cultivation resources—take them as nourishment to grow your own strength—progress becomes lightning fast.

It’s just that in most places, unless it’s somewhere truly chaotic and lawless, most of the major paths remain in relative balance.

Take Pingyang Prefecture, for example,

Above stand the seven top-tier powers, below are many second- and third-rate factions,

These seven major powers set the tone in Pingyang Prefecture, forming a relatively balanced state. Some are stronger, some weaker, but the differences aren’t huge. Everyone holds their ground—no one can do much to the others, and no one dares to really go all out for fear of letting outsiders profit. So even if there are some conflicts, everyone is restrained.

In this situation, if a power wants to grow, all it can do is slowly accumulate, constantly seeking opportunities outside. It’s stable, yes, but the growth is actually very slow, and if by chance a generation has too many disciples, resources become scarce and it drags down their talent.

So,

when Gu Zhan proposed handing the Lingxi Sword Sect’s territory over to the Gu Family, Gu Shanyun couldn’t suppress his excitement.

Before, he’d only considered coaxing Gu Zhan back to the clan, subconsciously ignoring just what Gu Zhan held in his hands. Now that he realized it, he instead became a bit uneasy and cupped his hands: "May I ask, Gu Qianhu, what do you need the Gu Family to do?"

Gu Zhan said slowly, "What I lack right now is people—everyone can see that. The Embroidered Uniform Guard I’ve rebuilt is all surface-level. Your Gu Family should be able to see this as well. It’s all just me hacking away at the front, but even so, the Embroidered Uniform Guard can barely keep up with just cleaning up after me.

Take now for example. I’m about to destroy the Lingxi Sword Sect, but I haven’t even got people to finish things up. That whole Youyang region is going to fall into chaos, and I don’t have the time to handle it. So, I need the Gu Family to take my orders and do cleanup for me."

Gu Shanyun frowned and said, "Then... wouldn’t that mean from now on, the Gu Family would basically become an appendage of the Embroidered Uniform Guard..."

"Wrong," Gu Zhan shook his head, "It means you’d be my, Gu Zhan’s, subordinate power. The Embroidered Uniform Guard... heh, what are they without me, Gu Zhan? Hm, and if you don’t mind, your Gu Family people can have authority within the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Gu Shanyun pondered, "Gu Qianhu has full decision-making power? No need to consult the Sixth Young Master?"

Gu Zhan smiled faintly and said nothing.

Gu Shanyun immediately cupped his hands and said, "This is a big matter, and I can’t decide alone. Gu Qianhu, may I return to the Gu Family to discuss?"

"It’s up to you."

Gu Zhan stood up directly and said, "Time is short. The fall of the Lingxi Sword Sect will become known very soon. Who knows how many people will come to split up these resources—I’m making no promises."

With that, Gu Zhan strode out and left.

In the main hall,

Gu Shanyun’s face was heavy as he suddenly slapped the table and said grimly, "Quick! Notify the Patriarch at once and have him bring people directly to Youyang!"

Gu Rou exclaimed, "Dad, aren’t we going back to discuss?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Gu Shanyun shook his head. "We’re not going."

"Why not?" Gu Rou asked.

"If we’re going to work together, let’s show the right attitude." Gu Shanyun said in a low voice, "As for what the Patriarch decides, that’ll be later. At least in my view, this is an opportunity—a chance for our Gu Family to rise."

Gu Rou frowned and said, "Dad, but this advantage isn’t so simple to seize. You heard what cousin Gu Zhan meant—he looks down on the Gu Family and will never come back. Instead, he wants the family to become his vassal from now on.

You have to think clearly. If we do this, the Gu Family is basically severing ties with the Pingyang Martial World and standing on the opposite side. And don’t think you can just take the good parts and ignore the duties. From cousin Gu Zhan’s personality, he won’t care about blood ties and won’t go easy when it comes to settling accounts."

Gu Shanyun shook his head, "Why act one way openly and another in secret? Gu Zhan’s strength is plain to see. We thought he was siding with the Sixth Young Master—now it looks like it’s the other way around, the Sixth Young Master is clinging to him.

There’s no need to worry about getting dragged into the Canglan City succession struggle. Given that, why not take a gamble and follow him? To put it bluntly, being his subordinate isn’t so bad—he may not want to return to the Gu Family, but blood is still thicker than water, after all,

If he fails in the future, if he’s restricted by the Pingyang Martial World, then even if our Gu Family always stays his subordinate, so be it. It’s basically like he’s the Patriarch. But if he breaks out of Pingyang Prefecture, then he’s succeeded—and he disdains Pingyang, but how much benefit could we reap by following him?

Now it all depends on what decision the Patriarch makes!"