What are Mr. Feng's insights

Gu Yang's furious roar was mixed with his heart's blood.

Blood continuously dripped from his chin and beard.

These were injuries from the previous battle.

Gu Yang couldn't bear to consume a Vermilion Fruit to heal himself.

Now, the entire Gu clan had fewer than a hundred Vermilion Fruits left, an accumulation of several generations.

Originally, there were 571 fruits.

In less than ten short years, ninety percent of them had been squandered by these descendants.

Some caught venereal diseases, some were crippled in internal clan conflicts, some ruined their foundations through excessive debauchery, and others simply maimed themselves through sheer recklessness.

There were all sorts of unimaginable situations.

The young people, in particular, were like wild horses that had slipped their reins.

Gu Yang's severe injuries flared up, and his body staggered involuntarily.

Gu Chen immediately supported him and helped him down.

Of the nine people who knew the truth about the flood dragon devouring children, only seven remained today.

The other six understood just how much pressure Gu Yang bore for the sake of the Gu clan.

Yet, these young people of the Gu clan were utterly disappointing.

They were also out of options.

After all, the "youths" of the Gu clan in their eyes were already in their twenties or thirties, and some were even in their forties or fifties with families of their own.

They couldn't just supervise them and restrict their freedom like two- or three-year-old toddlers.

As Gu Yang walked, he said to his fellow clansman beside him:

"I used to be too arrogant, always thinking my martial prowess was unmatched in the clan."

"Later, I was elected as the clan head by everyone."

"Only now do I realize that I simply lack the ability to manage the Gu clan."

"It's a pity that the old clan head and Mr. Bowen are no longer with us."

Gu Yang was now mentally and physically exhausted. The punch he had taken to the chest began to ache dully again.

It had nearly shattered his internal organs at the time.

But he still couldn't bring himself to eat a Vermilion Fruit.

One Vermilion Fruit meant one life.

With the opening of Mount Kunlun, the Vermilion Fruits had gone extinct.

Now, using one meant one less forever.

Faced with the clansmen's wastefulness, he only felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

He couldn't just watch his clansmen remain crippled or even die.

But there would inevitably come a day when the Vermilion Fruits ran out.

When that day came, what would these clansmen do?

"It would be better to have someone with management skills take over as clan head!"

This was the only solution Gu Yang could think of for the time being.

Gu Chen sighed.

"In the past, when the old clan head was around, us old folks only knew how to delve into the martial dao and compete for supremacy."

"Where could we possibly find someone capable of managing the clan?"

Gu Yang thought it over again and again, but couldn't think of a suitable candidate.

However, Feng Tengyun suddenly came to mind.

Although this man was an outsider.

Perhaps they could listen to his advice.

As long as the final decision-making power remained in his own hands, nothing should go wrong.

Gu Yang only rested for a single day.

The very next day, along with hundreds of Gu clan elders.

He invited Feng Tengyun to discuss the management of Great Xia.

Regarding Feng Tengyun's appearance.

The Gu clan members murmured among themselves, but since they had been briefed beforehand.

It didn't cause too much of a stir for the time being.

Gu Chen looked at Feng Tengyun with a chuckle and was the first to speak:

"Our Gu clan is currently facing many problems. Today, we'd like to ask Mr. Feng to help clear our confusion."

Feng Tengyun remained expressionless, offering no pleasantries.

He said directly:

"Speak."

This wasn't the first time many of those present had seen Feng Tengyun's aloof demeanor.

This Martial Sage, who had been kept by the Gu clan as a hostage.

Would often openly practice his martial skills in the Gu clan's training grounds without hiding anything.

But because of his icy countenance.

Few people ever struck up a conversation with him.

Gu Chen also spoke directly:

"Regarding Mr. Feng's previous insights on the younger generation of the Gu clan, we deeply agree. However, we have been struggling to find a way to deal with it."

"I wonder if Mr. Feng has any good solutions?"

Feng Tengyun remained silent in thought for a moment before saying:

"The solution is very simple."

"You just need to know what your mistakes are and correct them."

Gu Yang said:

"We are all ears."

Feng Tengyun continued:

"The biggest problem with the Gu clan is that everyone is equal."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd immediately erupted into discussion.

"How could equality be a problem?"

"This outsider clearly harbors ill intentions."

"This is absolute nonsense!"

...

Gu Yang hurriedly pressed his hands down, signaling for everyone to quiet down.

Ignoring all the voices of doubt, Feng Tengyun continued without pause:

"You shouldn't allow those who strive and work hard to be equal to those who reap without sowing."

"You need to let the young people see the rewards of hard work."

"Let them see the miserable consequences of indulging in pleasure."

"You must create inequality among people to ignite their fighting spirit."

At this moment, the members of the Gu clan suddenly felt that Feng Tengyun's words seemed to make a little bit of sense.

Gu Chen asked:

"Does Mr. Feng have any specific methods?"

Feng Tengyun said:

"There are many methods. The simplest is to subject all the Gu clan youths to an assessment."

"Survival of the fittest. The outstanding ones should be greatly rewarded."

"The worst performers should be given the harshest punishments and humiliations."

Feng Tengyun's words caused many to frown.

"Isn't punishment enough? Why include humiliation?"

"I think a good scolding is enough. Isn't humiliation going too far?"

"Won't this cause the less talented clansmen to never recover from the setback?"

...

Gu Yang once again raised his hand to stop the clansmen's discussions.

Feng Tengyun said simply and bluntly:

"If scolding worked, you wouldn't have come to ask me today."

"One must know shame to become courageous. Without comparison, there is no pain, and you cannot stimulate their drive to improve."

"You need to make them understand that falling behind not only means losing everything, but also suffering the most painful beatings."

This time, the Gu clan members discussed it for even longer.

Gu Yang didn't stop them either.

He was also carefully pondering Feng Tengyun's words.

Feng Tengyun remained entirely unmoved by the crowd's discussions.

He simply picked up the tea in front of him and began to sip it.

After a long time, the crowd finally quieted down.

This time, Gu Yang asked:

"Does Mr. Feng have any good suggestions regarding the management of Great Xia?"

Feng Tengyun put down his teacup.

As if without needing to think, he answered directly:

"Throughout history, even at Great Xia's absolute peak, they had no more than a few dozen Martial Sages."

"Yet the Gu clan has over three hundred Martial Sages. Managing Great Xia and this world should be an absolute breeze."

His words immediately filled the Gu clan members with confidence.

After all, Feng Tengyun was speaking the truth.

Even before Zhang Bowen's war.

All the Martial Sages in the entire world combined wouldn't even amount to a fraction of the Gu clan's numbers.

A world that could be managed well by a few dozen Martial Sages.

There was no reason their Gu clan, with over three hundred Martial Sages, couldn't manage it.

Feng Tengyun's eyes narrowed imperceptibly, revealing a dangerous glint.

He had decided to teach the Gu clan a harsh lesson.

"When Great Xia governed the world previously, Martial Sages almost never took action unless it was a last resort."

"However, since the Gu clan lacks experience, it is best to use the simplest method."

"Suppress them with martial force!"

"Given the current state of the world, you only need to scatter your Martial Sages across various regions."

"They can easily suppress their respective territories, rather than the current situation where the mountains are high and the emperor is far away."

"Your Martial Sages can also take the outstanding youths out to gain real-world experience."

"Within a few years, you will truly rule over the world."

Feng Tengyun's words left everyone present feeling somewhat tempted.