Cheap Grandfather

Two hours ago.

In the main hall of the Azure Sword Sect, Gu Chengyin and Jiang Qingshan sat opposite each other.

"So, there is no legacy at all, right?"

Jiang Qingshan nodded in confirmation.

"Correct, there is no legacy."

The Azure Sword Sect possessed no so-called immortal clan legacy, nor did they have any immortal path that could be reconnected.

The claim that an heir of the immortal clan could complete the legacy was absolute nonsense.

It was all a rumor, and nothing more than a rumor.

However, there was no look of surprise on Gu Chengyin's face.

From the moment he heard this rumor, he had already guessed as much.

Jiang Qingshan began to explain, "Everyone is very clear about the current state of the cultivation world."

"The immortal path is severed, and cultivation methods are fragmented. Countless exceptionally brilliant individuals exhausted all their efforts to cultivate to the peak of the Golden Core Realm."

"Yet, when attempting to touch the Nascent Soul Realm, without exception, they all suffered from qi deviation and perished, their dao vanishing entirely."

Jiang Qingshan's gaze turned toward the starry sky outside the window, as if looking at those fallen geniuses.

"I personally knew a few of them. They all possessed outstanding aptitude, rarely seen in a century."

"One of them, when he broke through to the peak of the Golden Core Realm, his sect believed he could reconnect the immortal path, step into the Nascent Soul Realm, and lead the cultivation world back to its zenith."

Jiang Qingshan's voice paused.

"And then he died."

"He died in his own cave dwelling, covered in blood, with all his meridians shattered..."

Jiang Qingshan did not continue, and Gu Chengyin did not ask.

The room fell into silence, save for the occasional faint crackling of the candlelight.

After a while, Jiang Qingshan continued:

"Since then, I have been wondering, is there still any hope for this cultivation world?"

"Do these people who cultivate with all their might still have anything to look forward to?"

"Since there is no future, what is the point of cultivation?"

"Since we are destined to die and our dao to vanish, what is the meaning even if I control the entire Azure Sword Sect?"

Jiang Qingshan sighed deeply, as if he had seen through it all, and said somewhat disheartenedly:

"If cultivating to the peak of the Golden Core Realm is the end, and taking one more step forward means certain death."

"Then who would continue to cultivate? Who would even try?"

At this moment, Gu Chengyin chimed in:

"Therefore, the rumor appeared."

"As long as an heir of the immortal clan is found, the cultivation methods can be completed, and the immortal path can be reconnected."

Jiang Qingshan nodded. "Yes."

"Although the rumor is false, the hope is real."

"Do you know what happened after this rumor emerged?"

"Those who had originally given up started cultivating again. Those sects that were originally disheartened began to make moves."

"It's not that they are stupid or brainless, but rather that they are willing to believe."

"Because this rumor represents hope." Gu Chengyin's voice was very calm.

"Even if it is illusory, even if someone steps forward to refute it, no one will believe the refutations."

"Because this is the will of the general public. What the truth is does not matter; what matters is that it represents hope."

A hint of appreciation flashed in Jiang Qingshan's eyes.

"You hit the nail on the head."

He looked at Gu Chengyin, his gaze growing somewhat complex.

"Although no one knows who spread this rumor, nobody cares to investigate."

"It was originally just something for the cultivation world to look forward to, but unexpectedly, you appeared."

The rumor came true.

Because Gu Chengyin appeared.

Because he was the heir of the Qingyun Immortal Clan.

Gu Chengyin did not reply this time, but silently calculated in his heart.

The rumor was false, and his identity as the immortal clan heir was just a guise.

But the Qingyun Art was real, and the complete immortal path was also real.

Since he possessed the Qingyun Art, then this so-called rumor...

Could become reality.

As the sole cultivator of the Qingyun Art, the sole possessor of the complete immortal path.

The room to maneuver in this situation was too vast, and the underlying benefits were immeasurable.

Even Gu Chengyin couldn't help but look serious, his mind beginning to race.

As long as the Qingyun Art appeared in the world, it meant dropping a heavy bombshell on the cultivation world.

It meant setting off a storm of blood and gore. It meant countless people would covet it, countless people would fight for it, and countless people would want it.

Therefore, he had to find a faction powerful enough, so powerful that everyone else would shrink back at the sight of it.

And in Great Luo, there was only one faction that met this condition.

The Heavenly Master Mansion.

Just like how no one dared to touch the Heaven Reliant Sword planted in Wudang's True Martial Hall, while Xie Xun's Dragon Slaying Saber was madly fought over by the entire martial world.

The Qingyun Art in Gu Chengyin's hands versus the Qingyun Art in the hands of Gu Chengyin of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Held completely different meanings.

But this process could not be rushed; it had to be taken step by step, like boiling a frog in warm water.

Dragging them into the water little by little. As long as he could use the Heavenly Master Mansion as a tiger skin to intimidate others.

The Qingyun Art would be the Heaven Reliant Sword in Gu Chengyin's hands.

And the first step right now was to find a teammate to cooperate with him.

Jiang Qingshan was undoubtedly the best choice, but before that.

Gu Chengyin still needed to confirm one thing: whether Jiang Qingshan actually acknowledged him as his granddaughter's fiancé.

If he did, they were family. If he didn't, Jiang Qingshan would have to give up his position as Sect Master.

Therefore, Gu Chengyin spoke up. Without beating around the bush, he asked directly:

"Sect Master Jiang, what is your relationship with Yunying like?"

This question came so suddenly that Jiang Qingshan was taken aback for a moment.

"What?"

"This junior is asking about your relationship with Yunying. Or rather, as an elder, do you care for your granddaughter?"

Jiang Qingshan fell silent. Bringing up Shangguan Yunying at a time like this had self-evident implications.

Jiang Qingshan had heard Jiang Jianli mention the relationship between Gu Chengyin and Shangguan Yunying.

It could be said that barring any accidents.

Gu Chengyin would inevitably become the son-in-law of the Shangguan Estate, and naturally, his grandson-in-law.

Although, judging from both his attitude and his actions, Gu Chengyin was not very polite to him, his grandfather-in-law in name.

But Jiang Jianli had specifically explained this point: this was simply Gu Chengyin's style.

When it was time to build connections, he was better at it than anyone else.

When it wasn't the time to build connections, he was colder than anyone else.

Balancing grace with might, the demeanor of a true powerhouse.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Qingshan asked in return:

"Why do you ask?"

Gu Chengyin did not hide anything and said openly and generously:

"Because this junior needs to confirm one thing: do you acknowledge me as family?"

Family.

These words fell into Jiang Qingshan's ears, causing his pupils to shrink sharply.

"Whether it is you or me, we actually both need a reason."

"A reason that allows us to trust each other."

A reason to trust each other.

Hearing this, Jiang Qingshan's gaze became complicated.

Since Gu Chengyin said so, he had already made his stance clear: he trusted Shangguan Yunying.

So as long as Jiang Qingshan also trusted Shangguan Yunying and acknowledged him as his grandson-in-law.

Then Gu Chengyin would acknowledge Jiang Qingshan as his grandfather.