In the grand hall of the Gu Clan, the old prestige had returned to loom once again. The walls were covered with engravings of a legendary dragon stretching across the hall, and luxurious crimson curtains hung from the high ceiling, sparkling under the glow of hanging spiritual crystals that radiated deep chi.
Gu Ting, the father of Gu Liu, sat upon the family patriarch's throne. His features were stern, and his body radiated an invisible aura of power. Anyone who looked into his eyes would know that he didn't reach this position by chance, but after a sea of blood and battles.
Beside him stood three of the clan's pillars, the ancient elders:
The first elder, Gu Jing, the family's sage, with a face as wrinkled as the pages of history, his eyes like mirrors reflecting the past and present.
The third elder, Gu Xuan, an undefeated warrior, with a silver beard and muscles carved from the stone of immortality.
The fourth elder, Gu Liang, calm as a blade in the dark, speaking only when a fate is to be decided.
And standing with them was the seventh elder, Gu Zin, a man dressed in a black robe embroidered with golden threads, his eyes brimming with wisdom, and his voice carrying the weight of centuries past.
Gu Ting roared, striking the armrest of his throne with such force that the stone floor of the hall trembled: "How dare the Nine Blades Sect send spies into our land?! Have they forgotten who we are?! Have they forgotten our legacy?!"
The seventh elder, Gu Zin, replied with a deadly calm: "It seems the world has forgotten who the Gu Clan is… they have forgotten the true price of underestimating us."
The third elder, Gu Xuan, laughed, his laughter like thunder: "Then let them remember... I will go myself, and I will revive the name they tried to bury! I'll take the Twelve Guardians with me, and we'll leave our mark once more."
Gu Ting responded with a fiery gaze: "No, that won't be enough. Even though you are at the Golden Immortal level, and the guardians are stronger than thousands of warriors, the world won't believe it… until they see with their own eyes the depth of our power."
The seventh elder, Gu Zin, raised his head, releasing a wave of chi that filled the hall: "True. It has been a hundred thousand years since our family last moved. Everyone thought we had extinguished. It is time to dispel those lies."
Everyone agreed, and then Gu Ting ordered the dispatch of:
The third elder, Gu Xuan
The first elder, Gu Jing
The fourth elder, Gu Liang
Accompanied by the Twelve Guardians, each representing one of the seventeen branches of the clan:
1. Gu Feng
2. Gu Xin
3. Gu Lan
4. Gu Ren
5. Gu Kai
6. Gu Cai
7. Gu Lin
8. Gu Xian
9. Gu Bai
10. Gu Zu
11. Gu Hao
12. Gu Ming
Along with fifteen elite warriors: Five at the Semi-Immortal level, and ten at the Peak Emperor level.
Before the session could conclude, a soft feminine voice split the air, like a whisper of wind amidst the silence of mountains. The voice was so beautiful that everyone in the hall involuntarily turned towards it. From behind the long curtains appeared a stunning woman dressed in a white robe embroidered with purple flowers. Her hair cascaded behind her like a nightly river, and her eyes carried an irresistible allure.
"I, too... will go."
She said in a soft tone, yet one that carried firmness. She was Gu Rui Tian, Gu Liu's aunt from the main branch, known for her strength and mystery. Her steps were enchanting, as though she did not touch the ground, and when she smiled, it seemed the entire hall lit up by itself.
Gu Ting laughed, his soul swelling with pride: "Hahaha! This is the noble aunt, Gu Rui Tian! Keep in mind, she's a woman... but she's worth a thousand swords!"
Gu Rui Tian responded with an enchanting laugh that filled the air with beauty and mystery: "This is my first nephew, and I won't allow anyone to harm him... It is only natural for someone from the main branch to step forward to protect him."
She then bowed lightly to the elders: "I extend my greetings to you, honorable elders of the clan."
The elders responded, welcoming her presence with open arms.
In the end, it was decided that the mission would depart in three days, marking the first official movement of the Gu Clan in a hundred thousand years. This movement would restore the world's memory and show that the legacy of the Gu Clan... cannot be trifled with.
End of Chapter.
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