Seated high on the City Lord's throne, Gu Liantian surveyed the hall below, his expression solemn and commanding respect without anger.

Everyone in the grand hall hurriedly bowed deeply, showing utmost reverence.

"According to the wager, Gu Feng has broken through to the Golden Elixir Realm within a year, so the position of Sequence Chief still belongs to him."

Gu Liantian spoke in a deep voice, filled with pride and arrogance.

No one in the hall dared to voice opposition.

Gu Huaisheng and Gu Chunfeng were so furious that they ground their teeth.

After a moment, Gu Huaisheng stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "City Lord, although Gu Feng has won the bet, the position of Sequence Chief is closely tied to the fortune of our Gu Family's Heroic Spirit City, a matter of such importance cannot be decided so lightly!"

"Indeed!"

Gu Chunfeng quickly echoed, loudly proclaiming, "The position of Sequence Chief should be held by the capable. My son Gu Kun broke through to the Elemental Infant Realm last month! He is the outstanding talent among the younger generation of our Gu Family, and he deserves it! If Gu Kun does not hold the position of Sequence Chief, I will be the first to object!"

A trace of malice flashed in Gu Huaisheng's eyes as he quickly knelt on the ground, crying out with tears, "For the millennia-old foundation of Heroic Spirit City, for the legacy left by our Gu Family ancestors, I urge the City Lord to reconsider!"

"I urge the City Lord to reconsider!"

All the Elders, understanding the situation, quickly knelt down and unanimously called for reconsideration.

"This is outrageous!"

Gu Liantian could no longer bear it. He stood up abruptly and smashed the Kylin armrest on the chair with one palm!

Clenching his fists tightly, he glared at the Elders of the family below him and couldn't help but roar in anger.

"Back then, it was you who looked down on Feng's weak cultivation and deemed him unfit for the position of Sequence Chief! It was you who set up the wager, waiting to see this child's joke! Now, Feng has exceeded expectations, greatly improving his cultivation, and you still want to pull him down, it's still you!"

Flinging his sleeve fiercely, Gu Liantian glared angrily, "Tell me! What exactly do you want to stop making things difficult for this child!"

Kicking away the incense burner in front of him, Gu Liantian shouted angrily, "Or is it that what you really want is the City Lord's position behind me?! If so, take it!"

Gu Huaisheng lowered his head, a barely noticeable cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

What he wanted was indeed the City Lord's position, but not for himself, for Gu Kun.

Their generation's prospects were already at an end. In his youth, he had also fought for it, but due to limited talent, he lost to Gu Liantian.

Gu Huaisheng had cultivated for hundreds of years, with no children of his own, only Gu Kun, his direct nephew, on whom he pinned all his hopes and dreams.

He only wished for Gu Kun of his line to secure a future, so that Gu Liantian's line would not always dominate, and therefore, Gu Feng's position as Sequence Chief must be taken!

With this thought, Gu Huaisheng's heart was resolute. He feigned humility, cupping his hands and retreating a few steps, speaking with feigned fear.

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"City Lord, we do all this with no personal agenda, and it is not against Gu Feng. It is truly because the world is treacherous, and the future City Lord of Heroic Spirit City must be like you, able to stand alone! Gu Feng... he truly is not the best choice!"

Gu Liantian's mind was in turmoil. The people before him were the backbone of the Gu Family, how could he not heed their opinions? However, removing Gu Feng from the position of Sequence Chief was not as simple as it seemed!

Losing status and privileges was minor; losing everything and being oppressed and persecuted by enemies was major!

Deeply understanding the harshness of the Cultivation World, Gu Liantian saw through everything. Just by looking at Gu Kun's gaze towards Gu Feng, he knew that once Gu Feng fell from the "divine pedestal," what awaited him would likely be endless trampling and slaughter!

This was the root of what Gu Liantian could not accept.

Gu Huaisheng was cunning and did not want to give the other side any chance to breathe, leading the Elders to press the issue again.

"I urge the City Lord to prioritize the millennia-old foundation of Heroic Spirit City and appoint Gu Kun as the Sequence Chief!"

"We second the motion, please appoint Gu Kun as the Sequence Chief!"

The Elders quickly followed suit, all bowing down.

With a long sigh, Gu Liantian felt utterly disheartened, feeling that his role as City Lord was unbearably frustrating, unable even to protect his own son's position within the family, and immediately considered resigning as City Lord.

Unable to protect even his only son, this City Lord position was not worth holding!

Perhaps, leaving behind the burden of Heroic Spirit City and taking Gu Feng far from this place of strife was a good choice.

At the very least, with his current cultivation, even if he became a wandering cultivator, no one would dare to easily oppress him.

"Third Uncle, I have a question I don't understand, may I ask for your guidance?"

Stepping forward silently, Gu Feng's voice was chillingly cold.

Gu Huaisheng was taken aback, turning back impatiently, "What else do you not understand?"

"You just said, the position of Sequence Chief should be held by the capable..."

As he spoke, Gu Feng's gaze was sharp, raising his hand to point at Gu Kun, and asked calmly.

"Is it true that as long as I can defeat him on the spot, no one will ever be able to say anything again?"

The crowd fell silent, looking at Gu Feng as if he were a fool.

Although this kid had broken through to the Golden Elixir Realm, even forming the rare seven-colored Golden Elixir.

But for a cultivator at the Golden Elixir Realm to dream of defeating one at the Elemental Infant Realm was simply wishful thinking.

In their eyes, the vast difference in cultivation realms was an insurmountable chasm!

Throughout history, there have been instances of the weak defeating the strong, but they were rare as a drop in the ocean.

He actually wanted to challenge Gu Kun at the Elemental Infant Realm?!

It was simply courting death!

"Hahahahahaha!"

Gu Kun was initially stunned, but when he came to his senses, he immediately laughed wildly.

"Good! Just what I wanted! Today, I will seek justice for my mother!"

He clenched his fists tightly, his Elemental Infant Realm cultivation spreading out without restraint, the slightly blood-tinged True Core force emanating from his body, distorting the surrounding space.

Squinting his eyes, Gu Feng summoned the Bright Moon Shuttle with one hand, the seven-colored True Core slowly rising, the powerful wind swirling around him.

Although he wasn't certain of victory, today, Gu Feng had no choice but to prove his strength.

Seeing how Gu Liantian had been threatened and humiliated by the Elders earlier, Gu Feng was already filled with rage.

For the sake of his useless son, Gu Liantian, though noble as the City Lord, had his dignity trampled by them, and even if Gu Feng could endure, he couldn't swallow this anger!

Mocking him was one thing, after all, Gu Feng had long been accustomed to it over the years.

But for his sake, his father had set aside his pride and dignity, bargaining with these Elders like a common peddler!

Gu Feng could not tolerate it, nor could he forgive it!

Gu Feng had to fight for himself, for his father, to win this battle!

"Today, this young master will start with you, you turtle!"

With a murderous intent towards Gu Kun, Gu Feng silently activated the Heavenly Insight Mysterious Embryo Strategy, the seven-colored Golden Elixir and Innate Dao Embryo in his spiritual sea quickly circulating, continuously channeling pure True Core force to his limbs and bones.

Gu Chunfeng was about to speak, but was suddenly stopped by Gu Huaisheng, who shook his head viciously, intending to take this opportunity to eliminate the threat of Gu Feng once and for all.

All of this was seen by Gu Liantian from the high seat of the City Lord. He also wanted to intervene, but after much thought, he felt that Gu Feng would have to face all this sooner or later, and it might be better to let him hone himself early.

In the Cultivation World, strength speaks louder than reason, and Gu Feng must be brave enough to face such challenges, or the road ahead would be even tougher.

Thus, he did not intervene, only prepared to act in case of a crisis.

In this way, the two young cultivators of the Gu Family faced off, tension rising, and a fierce battle seemed inevitable in the grand hall.

Suddenly, celestial music sounded from outside the hall.

Gu Feng perked up his ears, finding it very familiar, suddenly realizing that the melody was exactly the same as the one played when the Immortal Messenger of the Divine King descended south of the city that day.

"Could it be that the Divine King has sent another Immortal Messenger down?"

He wondered to himself, thinking that perhaps he could gain some benefits again this time.

But then he heard a rough, boisterous voice cursing as it entered the Council Hall.

"Which blind fool dares to lay a hand on my nephew?!"

As the words fell, a golden light suddenly flew straight into the hall, heading directly for Gu Kun!

"Kun'er! Watch out!"

Gu Chunfeng, seeing the danger, pushed the unsuspecting Gu Kun aside.

"Boom!"

A dull thud!

Even with his Spirit Dividing realm cultivation, Gu Chunfeng was forced back several steps by the sudden golden light, a mouthful of golden blood spraying from his nose, his plump body trembling with the powerful wind!

Looking again at the golden light, after striking Gu Chunfeng, it hovered steadily in mid-air, revealing its true form—a massive bronze hammer!

Three streaks of light flew into the hall, the leading light dissipating to reveal a towering middle-aged man before the crowd.

He wore a golden armor like a shuttle, a purple-gold crown with phoenix wings on his head, and most strikingly, a terrifying scar ran from his forehead to his chin, exuding a formidable presence.

"Old Thirteen!"

Gu Liantian was the first to recognize him, his long-missed thirteenth brother—Gu Xuanyuan!

Raising an eyebrow, Gu Feng thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, joyfully shouting, "Thirteenth Uncle! Why have you returned?"

Gu Xuanyuan grinned, pulling Gu Feng into a hug, ruffling his hair with a laugh, "Ah! Feng! You've grown quite a bit taller! But this body of yours is still too frail... huh? You've reached the Golden Elixir Realm? Not bad at all!"