Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 261: Chapter 151: Gu Jingang Departs, The Elder’s Apprehension_2

The horse, feeling the pain, began pulling the cart away from Gu’s Manor.

Watching Gu Jingang’s departing figure, Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang felt mixed emotions in their hearts. In the end, all they could do was sigh helplessly.

Gu’s Manor was, after all, a village fortress built upon familial ties. The clan elders, being senior in rank, wielded great authority. Despite the minor disturbance caused by Gu Jingang, the elders regained full control of power within just three days. At the same time, they annulled all of Gu Jingang’s orders regarding the distribution of cultivation resources.

In addition to invalidating Gu Jingang’s directives, the clan elders raised the threshold for non-main family members to practice martial arts. They also tightened control over various resources.

The core of all these provisions was clear: to suppress non-main family members from practicing martial arts as much as possible.

Clearly, once bitten by a snake, the elders were now wary even of ropes. They were terrified of producing a second Gu Jingang.

Fortunately, Asheng had long ceased relying on Gu’s Manor for cultivation resources to sustain his training. These regulations had little to no effect on him.

However, they had a significant impact on Gu Erniu’s family.

Gu Wan had originally received Gu Jingang’s approval to start practicing martial arts and was even able to receive cultivation resources from the manor. However, with the elders back in charge, all of this was nullified.

Without the manor’s supply of resources, Gu Erniu’s earning capabilities made it very difficult for him to afford Gu Wan’s cultivation expenses. As a result, Gu Erniu started venturing into Cang Mountain every day to hunt wild beasts, hoping to earn more money to buy cultivation materials for Gu Wan.

Even though Asheng was now wealthy beyond measure, he firmly believed in the principle that teaching someone to fish was better than giving them a fish. Therefore, instead of providing direct financial support, he taught Gu Wan how to train and frequently took him into the mountains to hunt. He also shared his superb archery skills and cultivation insights with him.

Gu Wan proved himself quite capable, progressing incredibly quickly. In just half a year, he had already become a Refining Skin Realm martial artist. Of course, this was not solely due to Gu Wan’s dedication and talent but was significantly influenced by Asheng feeding him the meat of sharp-toothed blood tigers.

Sharp-toothed blood tigers, being beasts infused with demonic blood, naturally possessed body-strengthening effects in their flesh. Moreover, during this time, Asheng had mixed pills suited for Refining Skin Realm martial artists into Gu Wan’s food. These were the primary reasons behind Gu Wan’s rapid progress in cultivation.

One day, while Asheng was teaching Gu Wan how to train with weapons, Gu Dajiang suddenly came looking for him.

When Asheng had first begun cultivating, Gu Dajiang had taken great care of him. Asheng felt grateful to Gu Dajiang and immediately stepped forward to greet him upon seeing him.

”Uncle Dajiang, are you looking for me?”

Gu Dajiang’s expression was downcast, as if he had something on his mind.

Seeing Asheng, Gu Dajiang sighed deeply, remained silent for a moment, and then said, ”Asheng, the clan elders are asking for you.”

Hearing this, Asheng’s heart instantly understood.

During the second raid by the Black Kill Gang, Asheng had killed two Blood Refining Realm small success-level individuals. This indirectly exposed his strength.

The clan elders must have noticed this and were now looking to probe him for answers.

Asheng didn’t mind. If the clan elders could tolerate him, he was willing to stay at Gu’s Manor for a while longer. Once his money and resources were almost consumed, he would set out for Red Cloud Prefecture. If the elders couldn’t accept him, he would leave for Red Cloud Prefecture immediately. After all, with Ge Qing’s token in hand, he wouldn’t need to worry about finding a foothold there.

Asheng accompanied Gu Dajiang to the council hall. The Great Clan Elder sat in the chief seat, while the Second Clan Elder and Third Clan Elder occupied the side seats. Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang stood behind them.

”Take a seat!”

The Great Clan Elder gestured with his mouth, indicating Asheng to sit across from him.

Asheng pulled out a chair, sat down calmly, and showed not a hint of nervousness.

The clan elders scrutinized Asheng for a long time before the Great Clan Elder slowly spoke: ”Asheng, are you a Blood Refining Realm martial artist?”

Asheng activated the Snake Breath Skill, causing a rolling column of Qi Blood Power to rise above his head.

”Blood Refining Realm Great Success!”

The three clan elders, along with Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang, were utterly shocked. They had assumed Asheng was merely at the Blood Refining Realm’s small success level but never imagined he could be at Great Success!

Asheng was only 17 years old!

A 17-year-old Blood Refining Realm Great Success martial artist—such talent was considered outstanding even in Red Cloud Prefecture.

They had once believed Gu Xiaojiang was the most gifted in Gu’s Manor, only to now discover that Asheng was even more exceptional.

After a brief moment of astonishment, the elders’ expressions grew solemn.

”Asheng, you were born and raised in Gu’s Manor. Should the manor face a crisis, would you step forward to assist?”

Asheng grinned. ”Of course, I would. Not only is this my birthplace, but I also have friends living here. Naturally, I wouldn’t want to see this place fall into ruin.”

The Great Clan Elder nodded slightly, a bit reassured, then continued, ”You’re old enough now. Within the main family, there are many unmarried young women, some of whom are beautiful and skilled. Why not pick one and marry her, start a family, and live the good life of a warm home?”

Asheng understood that the elders wanted to use marriage to bind him to the main family of Gu’s Manor.

Unfortunately, Asheng’s aspirations did not lie in that direction.

Asheng shook his head in refusal. ”Thank you for the kind offer, but I have no interest in this. Please don’t bring this up again in the future.”

The Great Clan Elder’s face darkened. He slammed the table and said, ”Asheng! You better think carefully! Martial artists need vast wealth to support their cultivation. If you join the main family, you’ll receive the manor’s full backing. With your strength, the clan’s authority will undoubtedly pass into your hands in the future! Gu’s Manor is growing more powerful by the year. Perhaps in a few years, we’ll take over Canghe County and become a newly ascended prominent clan. All the influence and wealth would be at your disposal. Doesn’t that tempt you even a little?”

The Great Clan Elder had no idea that what he was offering meant absolutely nothing to Asheng.

After looting the Lu family and Qian Jin, Asheng was already wealthy beyond imagination, with over 300,000 silver notes alone—not to mention he still had some martial arts techniques he could sell, which would fetch a substantial sum. As for power, in the face of absolute strength, it was worthless.

The Great Clan Elder’s effort was akin to someone earning 5,000 coins a month trying to entice a millionaire—it was rather laughable.

Asheng’s eyes were firm, his aura unwavering as he replied, ”Elder, my heart is truly not set on this. Please don’t raise this matter again!”

The Great Clan Elder’s face immediately turned cold. The atmosphere in the council hall became tense.

Gu Dajiang wanted to step in to mediate but was directly interrupted by the elder.

”Since your heart isn’t here, Gu’s Manor is too small to accommodate a great figure like you. I must ask you to seek another place!”

After the incident with Gu Jingang, the elders could no longer tolerate having someone within the manor who wouldn’t obey their orders.

Asheng had anticipated this outcome. The elders’ behavior was already ingrained; expecting them to change in a short time was unrealistic.

Asheng didn’t linger on the matter. He stood up and smiled. ”Rest assured, Elder. I will leave Gu’s Manor shortly.”

After leaving the council hall, Asheng didn’t return to his residence. Instead, he headed directly to Canghe County to find Ge Qing.

Asheng placed a thick stack of silver notes on the table.

”Master Ge, this is what I owed you from last time.”

Ge Qing glanced at the notes and laughed. ”That’s more than expected. Judging by the timeline, you shouldn’t have used up all your pills yet.”

Asheng nodded. ”The extra silver notes aren’t for me to buy pills; they’re to cover future costs. One day, a young man named Gu Wan will come to you seeking medicine. I’m paying for him in advance.”

Ge Qing looked at Asheng curiously. ”Are you preparing to head to Red Cloud Prefecture?”

Asheng didn’t hide the truth. ”Yes, it’s about time I ventured into a larger world to explore.”

Ge Qing couldn’t help but smile. ”It’s a good thing for young people to see the world. Best of luck to you!”

After bidding farewell to Ge Qing, Asheng went to Helian Tie Lan’s residence.

Helian Tie Lan hadn’t seen Asheng in some time. Amid recent changes, she had feared something bad had happened to him. Seeing Asheng now, her face lit up with joy.

”I’m sorry I couldn’t kill Zhao Honglie for you, but rest assured, if I encounter him in the future, I will make sure to bring you his head!”

Helian Tie Lan was already aware of the Black Sand Gang’s destruction, and her inner turmoil had mostly subsided.

”No matter. The Black Sand Gang is gone, and my vengeance has mostly been fulfilled. You’re here to bid farewell, aren’t you?”

The intuition of a woman was very accurate. From the moment Asheng entered, she sensed that he had come to say goodbye.