Chapter 528 - 460: Compensation (3)
Chapter 528: Chapter 460: Compensation (3)
The men of the Gongsun Clan, young and old, breathed a collective sigh of relief as the color returned to their faces. Still, some began whispering among themselves, lamenting the loss of the two Storage Rings. ’A treasure trove, no matter how large, is stationary. Plus, digging it up is risky; someone could always try to rob you. But Storage Rings are light, elegant, and so convenient. You can carry all your possessions in one, and as long as you hide it well, no one can ever take it. What could be better?’
Gongsun Changting couldn’t help but ask Gongsun Li, "Grandfather, we are a Cultivation Family. You’re already at Late-stage Foundation Establishment, and Granduncle and Uncle Han Shan have also broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Why are we still so afraid of the Gu and Tang families? Even if the Gongsun Clan was at fault, couldn’t we just make a public apology and offer a generous gift? Why did we have to give away our family heirlooms? Young Master Gu’s cultivation can’t be higher than yours, Granduncle’s, or Uncle Han Shan’s, can it?"
"I’ve lived for over a hundred years. Do I need you to tell me how to conduct myself?"
Gongsun Li glared at his grandson. "Then let me teach you all another lesson today. Listen carefully, and stop pretending you know everything. First, the Gongsun Clan must never offend those in power or become entangled with the authorities. That is an ancestral decree! The Gongsun Clan is a Cultivation Family, but do you think the Gu and Tang families aren’t? There are countless Cultivators in this world Cultivating their Body and seeking the Great Dao. There is always a taller mountain, always someone stronger. Never underestimate anyone! Young Master Gu is only in his twenties. He hasn’t been cultivating for long, yet he has already broken through to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. The Tang family’s granddaughter has only been on the path for a few years, and she’s already at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer! I brought a Spirit Testing Stone with me today, and within just a few steps, I confirmed it: Young Master Gu possesses a Mutated Thunder Spirit Root—a supreme talent! The Tang family’s granddaughter has Water and Wood Dual Spirit Roots, making her a born Alchemist! They clearly have access to Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, on top of being born into wealth and power. Are you looking to court death by openly provoking a family like that? Furthermore, what Han Shan did back then was utterly deplorable. Ruining a family’s fortune and damning their bloodline... such a vicious act is unforgivable in any circle, let alone the Cultivation World. What’s wrong is wrong, and we must admit it! Heaven’s justice is inescapable. If we don’t settle this quickly, it will hinder Han Shan’s Cultivation and advancement, and that of our entire clan."
After hearing this, Gongsun Chongshan, Gongsun Changting, and the others meekly voiced their understanding, no longer raising any objections.
With the bags under his eyes drooping and a sour look on his face, Gongsun Xiang waved for the younger generation to leave. He and Gongsun Li then began to discuss how they would visit the Bai Family.
Though they disliked the Bai Family, the Bais were still a prominent name in Beijing. Since they had come all this way, it would be rude not to pay them a visit.
"Grandfather was right when he said nothing good ever comes from getting involved with the Bai Family! Let’s pay them a visit tomorrow. The brothers, Sixteen and Seventeen, have sent word that they’ve located the Spirit Plants. From now on, we can just rely on our own skills to acquire the spirit plant medicine we need, and we won’t have to deal with the Bai Family again. Also,"
Gongsun Li looked at Gongsun Xiang and said with a grave expression, "Since we’ve already made our promise to the Gu and Tang families, I will personally cripple that girl Ruxue’s cultivation. She will never be able to practice Cultivation again. We’ll take her back to our ancestral home in the countryside and have her focus on preparing herbs. When you return, you must also restrain Han Shan and make him understand. Tell him not to leave the mountain casually, and especially not to cross paths with any member of the Gu family. One look at the Gu family’s grandson is enough to know he’s a man of his word. He said he would not hold the rest of the Gongsun Clan responsible, but Gongsun Hanshan is the exception. If they never meet in this life, then all is well. But if they do, it will be a battle to the death, with no quarter given!"
Gongsun Xiang snorted heavily. "My son Han Shan is also exceptionally talented, and his cultivation has progressed by leaps and bounds in recent years. Is he supposed to be afraid of some snot-nosed brat? If that boy is determined to pick a fight, there’s no telling who will be the one to die! As long as they sign a life-and-death waiver, the Gu family had better not come crying to us afterward demanding all sorts of compensation!"
Gongsun Li’s slightly bulging, goldfish-like eyes shifted. He shook his head and sighed. "Han Shan’s cultivation has indeed surged impressively over the last decade. Others might not know why, but I do. When he acted on the Bai Family’s behalf and destroyed the Gu family’s Guardian Array, he was rewarded with two stalks of Thousand-year-old Purple Ganoderma, along with numerous precious herbs and treasures. That Old Bai is a cunning schemer. If he hadn’t given those things to Han Shan, they would have been confiscated when his properties were seized. But Han Shan, the fool, didn’t think and let himself be used. And now... sigh. Enough. In any case, I have warned you. You absolutely must admonish Han Shan! I just finished lecturing the younger generation. We can’t think that just because our family has a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, we can look down on the Gu and Tang families. They may have started late, but their starting point is far higher! Even in a Cultivation Family like ours, anyone beginning their Cultivation now has to slowly guide their energy with Energy Introduction, painstakingly tempering their body little by little. It takes at least two or three years just to eliminate most of the body’s impurities. Only then can they begin to stretch their tendons, forge their bones, and practice their Cultivation Technique. Have you taken a close look at the Cultivators from the Gu and Tang families? Did you notice anything? Even those with a mere Qi Refining cultivation at the second or third layer have a foundation that is pure, deep, and solid. That’s because they can undergo Bone Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Forging from the very beginning, purging all impurities from their bodies. When they execute their Cultivation Technique, they are like fish in water, achieving twice the results with half the effort! What takes us ten years of practice, they can accomplish in just three to five! Young Master Gu’s breakthrough to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment in such a short time wasn’t solely due to his talent—it’s because he has access to Immortal Plants and Spiritual Medicine! Don’t forget why we came here. When you have time, you must still advise the children to remain calm, avoid arrogance, and show more restraint!"