39: Chapter 39 Two Prodigies from One Family, The Early Rise of the Clan

"Gu Xuan."

This name was softly spoken by Gu Yan.

Xuan, the beginning of heaven and earth, the mother of all things, profound and mysterious.

It not only corresponded to his naturally extraordinary Xuan Grade Spirit Root but also embodied Gu Yan's infinite hope that he would be able to explore the mysteries of the Dao in the future.

Gu Fan, Gu Xuan.

One to live a peaceful and smooth life, being an extraordinary Mortal.

One with outstanding Aptitude, exploring the profound wonders of the Dao.

The way of civil and martial arts, balancing tension and relaxation.

Gu Yan believed that with the two brothers, the future of the Gu Family would surely shine as brightly as the sun and moon, illuminating generations to come!

The birth of a Xuan Grade Spirit Root was a monumental event capable of shaking all of Luoyun Town. However, Gu Yan did not publicize it; instead, he issued strict orders to keep the matter confined to the core members of the Gu Family.

Trees that stand out in the forest are destroyed by the wind.

Without absolute strength, exposing one's trump cards too early would only invite unnecessary disaster.

Three days later, in Gu Yan's study.

For the first time, this small room gathered all the current core members of the Gu Family.

In the main seat sat Gu Yan, with his tall, upright posture and composed demeanor.

On his left was the gentle and virtuous head wife, Shen Qingxue, who managed the Family affairs in an orderly fashion.

On his right was Bai Linger, who remained pure but now carried a touch of maternal radiance.

And sitting opposite him was Liu Ruyan, with her alluring figure and peach-blossom eyes now filled with tenderness.

This was the first true Family meeting of the Gu Family.

"I have asked you here today because there is a matter of great importance regarding the fate of our Gu Family for the next hundred, or even thousand, years that I need to discuss with you."

Gu Yan's opening remarks had no small talk, immediately bringing the atmosphere into a state of unprecedented solemnity.

Hearing this, the three women all wore serious expressions and looked at Gu Yan in unison.

Gu Yan's gaze slowly swept over the three of them and finally landed on Shen Qingxue and Bai Linger.

"Qingxue, Linger, I know you have always had a doubt in your hearts. Why I, a man who was on the verge of death, could regain my youth within just a few months, and even... possess powers that Mortals cannot understand."

"Today, I will give you the answer."

"Because, I have embarked on a path called 'Cultivation'."

Cultivation!

These two words, to Shen Qingxue and Bai Linger, who were born and raised as Mortals, were no different than an oracle from the Nine Heavens—distant, yet filled with a mysterious attraction.

Gu Yan ignored the shocked expressions on their faces and continued in a calm tone, explaining to them the most cruel and real Laws of this world.

From the heaven-and-earth difference between Mortals and Cultivators, to the root of Cultivation Aptitude—the Spiritual Root.

"...Spiritual Roots are divided into six major Ranks: Useless, Mortal, Yellow, Xuan, Earth-Grade, and Heaven-Grade. Each Rank represents a completely different path of destiny."

"And I am the most pathetic... Useless Spirit Root."

When he said this, his tone held no self-mockery, only the calmness of stating a fact.

"Without a great Opportunity, this life is destined to have no connection with the Dao, and after a hundred years, I will turn into a handful of dust."

"But..." He changed the subject, his gaze becoming burning hot as it landed on Bai Linger and Liu Ruyan.

"You have given birth to two... Qilin children with ties to the immortal path for our Gu Family!"

He looked at Bai Linger and said gently, "Linger, the eldest son Gu Fan you bore for me was born with... a Low Grade Yellow Rank Spiritual Root!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Linger was stunned for a moment, and then, immense joy rushed to her cheeks!

Although she didn't quite understand what "Low Grade Yellow Rank" meant, she understood the words "ties to the immortal path"!

Her own son... was a child with ties to the immortal path!

Immediately after, Gu Yan's gaze turned to Liu Ruyan.

His voice became more high-pitched, filled with irrepressible pride!

"And Ruyan, the second son Gu Xuan you bore for me has an Aptitude that is... unprecedented!"

"He is a... Low Grade Xuan Grade Spirit Root, a talent rarely seen in a hundred, or even a thousand years!"

Boom!

This sentence left Shen Qingxue and Liu Ruyan completely stunned.

Especially Liu Ruyan; her alluring peach-blossom eyes instantly filled with tears!

She... she, who was spurned by the world and regarded as an "ominous" "bane"... had actually... given birth to a... once-in-a-millennium... heaven-favored son for her husband?!

A huge sense of happiness and acceptance, like a mountain flood or a tsunami, instantly engulfed her scarred heart! She looked at Gu Yan, with flames dancing in her eyes—a light interwoven with joy and pride.

"Yellow Rank... Xuan Grade..." Shen Qingxue murmured. She was sharp and intelligent and immediately understood the meaning, "Husband, does this mean that Fan'er and Xuan'er... can both become... immortal masters like you in the future?"

"More than that!" Gu Yan's voice was firm and decisive, "Their future achievements will only far surpass mine!"

"Their birth means that from today on, the Gu Family will no longer be an ordinary Mortal Family!"

"We possess a... ticket to join the Ranks of 'Cultivation Families'!"

The entire study became heated due to his words full of ambition.

In the eyes of the three women, there was nothing but endless yearning and excitement for the future.

[Ding—Core Family cohesion has initially formed, Family prestige has reached a new height.]

[Generating the first version of the Family development plan brief for the host...]

In his mind, the familiar voice of the System suddenly rang out.

Immediately after, a blue light screen full of low-quality special effects unfolded in Gu Yan's consciousness.

At the very top of the light screen, a title was written in huge, golden, flickering fonts:

[Gu Group... cough, Gu Family Development Plan V1.0]

[Reporter: Gold Medal System 007]

[1. Current Family Overview:]

[Core members: 4 (1 male, 3 female, stable structure, sustainable development).]

[Genius descendants: 2 (Yellow Grade x1, Xuan Grade x1, good start, huge potential).]

[Family wealth: Good (Just looted the Wang Family, sufficient funds).]

[Family prestige: Luoyun Town MAX (Reached the local prestige cap).]

[2. Next stage core development goals:]

[One word: Money!]

[Two words: Resources!]

[Four words: Get money! Get resources!]

[3. Suggested execution plan:]

[Plan A: Utilize the host's existing [Basics of Alchemy] skill to open a Medicinal Pill industry, monopolize the Luoyun Town Medicinal Pill market, and achieve primitive capital accumulation.]

[Plan B: Continue to branch out and spread leaves, find higher quality... cough, partners, strive to give birth to Earth-Grade and Heaven-Grade descendants as soon as possible, and ascend to the heavens in one step!]

[Report complete, please review, Host.]

Gu Yan looked at this uniquely styled "PPT" in his mind, and his mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.

However, although this System was unreliable, its summary... was truly hitting the nail on the head.

He composed himself and repeated the System's plan to the three women in his own words.

"...So, next, we have three major things to do."

"First, I will continue to go into seclusion to improve my strength as soon as possible. Only when I am strong enough can I support a stable sky for you and for this Family."

"Second, the Cultivation of Fan'er and Xuan'er must be grasped from a young age. And Cultivation consumes the most resources. We need to prepare massive, inexhaustible Cultivation resources for them!"

"Third," his gaze became sharp, "I will open the furnace for Alchemy! Utilizing Medicinal Pill, I will open up a continuous path of wealth for the Gu Family!"

After the meeting ended.

Gu Yan went to the Gu Family ancestral hall alone.

Inside the ancestral hall, dozens of ancestral tablets were neatly arranged.

The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.

Gu Yan took three sticks of incense from the altar and lit them.

He did not kneel.

He just held the incense, quietly standing before the tablets.

Behind him, it seemed as if his three wives and two sons, who were still in swaddling clothes and carried the future of the Family, were standing there.

He looked at the cold tablets, but his heart was burning with passion.

He slowly and solemnly inserted the three sticks of incense in his hand into the incense burner in front of him.

The blue smoke rose, straight up, like a ladder leading to the unknown firmament.

"Ancestors above."

"From today on, the Gu Family..."

"Shall rise!"

His voice was very soft, but it carried a... determination that was enough to move even ghosts and gods.

However, he did not know.

The rapid rise of the Gu Family had already stirred up deeper... undercurrents.

The sky of Luoyun Town could only have one sun after all.