"Divine Martial Army!"
Gu Qingfeng looked at the token left by Zuo Li. His expression remained unchanged, and with his right hand, he effortlessly seized the token from thin air, grasping it in his palm.
The token clearly bore the insignia of the Divine Martial Army.
Then, Gu Qingfeng squeezed with his fingers. The token, made of fine iron, gradually turned into a shower of dust and fell to the ground.
Gu Yang also emerged from behind the great hall.
Seeing the Divine Martial Army's token disintegrate into dust, he looked puzzled. "Father, why did you refuse to join the Divine Martial Army?"
Gu Yang was discussing other matters with Gu Qingfeng when Zuo Li arrived; he only retreated to the Inner Hall when the visitor came.
Martial Artists have keen ears and sharp eyes.
Listening in on the conversation in the great hall was an easy feat for them.
Gu Qingfeng's vitality pulsed, blowing away the last specks of dust in his palm, before he asked indifferently, "What do you think of the Divine Martial Army?"
"The Divine Martial Army is indeed strong, having annexed three counties in just over a decade, commanding a million-strong army, and furthermore Continue reading more chapters on NovelHub for the best experience."
At these words, Gu Yang promptly listed the military advantages of the Divine Martial Army.
After all, such information was clear to anyone who inquired.
Gu Qingfeng shook his head slightly. "It's undeniable that Pei Jing's power is not weak, but compared to the true dragon of the Taixuan Dynasty that has presided over the world for three thousand years, Pei Jing is far too weak.
Among the Nine States and thirty-six counties, Pei Jing only commands three.
Moreover, these three counties are among the lowest tiers in the thirty-six counties."
"Every faction vying for power in the world today is backed by a major force, each wishing to carve up the true dragon and thereby establish dominance over the realm."
"Pei Jing may have the potential to sit in that seat, but that's just a slight possibility at the moment, and his chances of success are not particularly high."
Gu Qingfeng paused briefly before continuing.
"In these chaotic times, hastily choosing a side is not wise. If the Gu Family Manor were weak and unable to assert itself amid the overwhelming tide of fortune, then it would be another matter.
But as it stands, the power of the Gu Family Manor is substantial. At least in this era of chaos, we have the capital to make our own choices."
"With that being the case, why rush to take a stand so quickly?"
"What's more, this place is Taishan County, Guangyang Prefecture, still under the control of the court. If the Gu Family Manor were to side with the Divine Martial Army and if word were to leak out, the consequences should not be underestimated!"
A camel, thin to the point of death, is still larger than a horse.
Gu Qingfeng was not naïve enough to believe that the Taixuan Dynasty had grown so weak that it could be easily manipulated by others.
the court had been established for three thousand years.
The depth of its heritage could not be compared to that of ordinary forces.
Right now, although warlords were rising and natural disasters were successive, it was not yet the end of the line.
The Gu Family Manor, located within Guangyang Prefecture, secretly colluding with the Divine Martial Army? Unless completely irrational, there was absolutely no need.
This was the reason Gu Qingfeng refused Zuo Li's attempt to win him over.
It wasn't that the Divine Martial Army's offer was insufficient.
Rather, given the current situation, the Gu Family Manor simply had no need to take such risks.
Slow and steady was the truly proper approach for the Gu Family Manor.
Half-step Mastery was not Gu Qingfeng's goal.
Even the ranks of Master, or Great Grandmaster, were not what he sought.
His real aim was to break through the limits of Martial Arts,
Achieving a higher level of existence.
"Father's words are most insightful. I have been short-sighted!"
Gu Yang's face showed understanding.
He hadn't thought through the situation to such a profound degree.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at him, slightly shaking his head. "You are still young. In time, you will understand these things on your own. For now, our family's reputation is well-established. As long as Guangyang Prefecture does not fall, then White Stone Dao remains temporarily safe.
For the upcoming period, focus on enhancing your strength."
After Zuo Li had left,
it only took a few days
before other forces came to visit.
Among them was a familiar face from the Evil Suppression Bureau, Jiang Qin. Compared to his previous arrogance, this time Jiang Qin's demeanor was much more humble, treating the two as equals at the very least.
His purpose, still the same as before, was to recruit Gu Qingfeng to join the Evil Suppression Bureau.
were the very generous conditions Jiang Qin offered.
they were no less than those offered by Pei Jing.
Then, there were other sects and noble families, including the Zhuo Family, all vying to draw Gu Qingfeng into their ranks, which Gu Qingfeng naturally declined one after another.
these people merely left with a smile, showing no intention of burning bridges.
Such scenes only made Gu Qingfeng more aware of the importance of being powerful.
"In a chaotic world, only when your fists are strong, can you truly stand your ground; even if your opponents are resentful, they have no choice but to endure it!"
Gu Qingfeng pondered to himself.
Being a half-step Master was already significant, but achieving the Master level would be even more formidable.
Gu Qingfeng had also indirectly come to understand another matter.
That being a half-step Master was not a necessary path for all Martial Artists on the Refining Organ stage.
Many such Martial Artists could only be called Little Masters and would then break through the constraints of Refining Organ to become true Masters.
above the rank of Master were True Intent Masters.
Only after becoming a True Intent Master could one have the qualifications to challenge for the title of Great Grandmaster.
To become a True Intent Master, one must grasp the corresponding level of True Intent.
is akin to a seedling of a True Intent Master.
Once a half-step Master breaks through to become a Master, they could instantly overpower ordinary Masters, becoming a top contender among Masters.
Gu Qingfeng truly understood why these forces were so eager to recruit him.
A strong Little Master would naturally not receive such treatment, but a prospective True Intent Master was a different story altogether.
Universal Martial Arts.
Great Grandmasters were a rarity in the world.
True Intent Masters were considered amongst the strongest in the world of Universal Martial Arts.
Gu Qingfeng consumed Great Sun Yang Qi, and his blood suddenly boiled, the Pure Yang Qi within his blood significantly increased out of thin air.
"The fifth layer of Green Sun Skills has reached Perfection!"
Gu Qingfeng's expression remained calm.
Minor breakthroughs were no longer enough to shake his composure.
At this moment, Gu Peng arrived.
"Subordinate pays respects to the manor master."
Gu Qingfeng's face was devoid of joy or sorrow, unaffected by external affairs.
Gu Peng bowed and said, "To report to the manor master, among the Registered Disciples of the Outer Hall, there is already one who has successfully stepped into the threshold of Martial Arts!"
Hearing this, a sharp light flashed in Gu Qingfeng's eyes.
If he was not mistaken, even the earliest batch of Registered Disciples had only been with them for a mere month.
In just one month, someone had stepped into the gateway of Martial Arts.
If this was true, it indicated that among this batch of Registered Disciples, a top-tier talent had emerged.
Gu Qingfeng immediately said,
"Bring this person to see me!"