In the meeting hall.

At first, it was silent.

"Ahem!"

A middle-aged man cleared his throat, stood up, and cupped his hands, saying, "City Lord, I believe that Gu Feng's cultivation is weak, he has achieved nothing despite being ranked first in the sequence for many years! He should step down!"

The speaker, a middle-aged man with a square face and long eyebrows reaching down to his chin, was none other than Gu Feng's second uncle, Gu Liantian's half-brother, known as the Long-Browed Daoist, Gu Huaisheng.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone began to whisper among themselves.

Many nodded in agreement, while some continued to feign indifference.

"Indeed, I also believe that this child has been cultivating for nearly twenty years and is still stuck at the third level of the Qi Refining stage, hogging family resources without any progress, bringing shame to our Gu Family and inviting ridicule from outsiders!"

A chubby Daoist stood up, surprisingly it was Gu Feng's Fifth Uncle, the grandfather of the second in sequence, Gu Kun—Gu Chunfeng.

In the sequence, the young talents of the Gu Family burst into laughter, starting to whisper among themselves.

"This useless guy, still at the third level of Qi Refining after all these years, if I were him, I'd bash my head in."

"Being ranked alongside him in the sequence is truly humiliating!"

"Isn't it just because he's the City Lord's only son?"

"Shh, keep it down, his father is the City Lord."

"What are you afraid of? Everyone in Heroic Spirit City knows he's a waste! It's just the truth!"

"First in sequence should be for the capable, what right does he have? Pah!"

Listening to the gossip behind him, Gu Feng remained expressionless, having long grown accustomed to it over the years.

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Gu Liantian's face was livid. He had heard the discussions of those below him, and this wasn't the first time such a scene had occurred. Each time, he had suppressed it, but now, with the war between the Eastern Region and the Southern Plains imminent, Heroic Spirit City would soon send cultivators to battle. He couldn't and didn't want to offend the elders of these families.

Gripping the Kylin armrest tightly, he suppressed his anger and said calmly, "Though that's the case, Gu Feng has committed no wrongdoing. Forcing him out of the sequence may seem unfair, and outsiders might say Heroic Spirit City changes its decrees at will, lacking any law."

The meeting hall fell silent once more.

The meaning was clear: he hasn't done anything wrong, isn't it a bit much for you to keep pressing?

Gu Liantian's fierce protection of his son was well-known in Heroic Spirit City, leaving the elders of the Gu Family momentarily speechless.

Looking at his father, the City Lord, sitting high on the main seat, Gu Feng couldn't help but feel a bit moved.

Over the years, despite the cold stares and ridicule, Gu Liantian had never scolded him for it, at most encouraging him to practice diligently. This warm fatherly love sometimes made Gu Feng resent his own incompetence.

"City Lord, that's not entirely correct!" Gu Huaisheng spoke again, cupping his hands, "If we talk about wrongdoings, this child isn't entirely innocent!"

"Oh?" Frowning, Gu Liantian sensed something amiss.

Gu Huaisheng glanced back at Gu Feng and said, "During the City Lord's seclusion, Gu Feng took charge of city affairs, acting arbitrarily! He amassed wealth on a large scale, setting up some Loan Treasure Pavilion in the city, causing our Heroic Spirit City cultivators to lose their drive, indulging in greed, creating chaos, and inciting public outrage, which is truly unforgivable!"

Startled, Gu Feng secretly clicked his tongue. No wonder everything had been going so smoothly lately; this old bastard had been waiting for him here all along!

With his fleshy face trembling, Gu Chunfeng quickly chimed in, "Indeed! This child even created a private army under false pretenses! He recruited three thousand cultivators to form the Artifact Crafting Department, stationed in the west of the city!"

Heroic Spirit City had a clear decree that, aside from the City Lord, no cultivator could establish a cultivation group with military characteristics, to consolidate the Gu Family's rule in Heroic Spirit City, a matter of principle!

This statement caused an uproar in the meeting hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have a word?"

Smoothing his drooping eyebrows, Gu Huaisheng cupped his hands to the crowd, "Though this child has erred, he is still of Gu Family blood, and I doubt he would dare commit treasonous acts! Considering Gu Feng's youth and ignorance, he should be made to close the Loan Treasure Pavilion and disband the three thousand cultivators, but he must not retain his sequence position!"

The elders of the Gu Family exchanged glances, immediately understanding, and nodded in agreement.

"I believe this is feasible, I second it."

"I second it as well."

"Seconded."

High above, Gu Liantian sighed deeply. He certainly didn't believe his own son would betray him, but the situation had reached a point where if Gu Feng's sequence status wasn't revoked, these old foxes would keep harping on his alleged treason, making it even harder to resolve.

After a moment of silence, Gu Liantian slowly said, "If that's the case..."

"Father!"

A loud voice interrupted, and Gu Feng suddenly stood up, respectfully saying, "I have something to say!"

Gu Liantian was taken aback, quickly responding, "Go ahead."

Taking out a folding fan from his robe, Gu Feng asked, "Father mentioned submitting the monthly tribute earlier, may I know the amount?"

Unsure of what this child was up to, Gu Liantian replied, "Fifty thousand superior-grade spirit stones per month."

Hearing the amount, Gu Feng discreetly rolled his eyes.

One superior-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for a hundred medium-grade spirit stones.

And one medium-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for a thousand beginner-grade spirit stones.

Fifty thousand superior-grade spirit stones a month was indeed a huge sum! No wonder his father, the City Lord, was troubled.

Everyone in the meeting hall focused on Gu Feng, unsure of his intentions.

With a flick of his wrist, the folding fan opened, revealing the words "Harmony Brings Wealth" clearly inscribed on it. Gu Feng touched the white jade ring storage and suddenly raised his hand in front of everyone.