Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Coming to the Door
Gu Jinlai calculated the right time.
Today was just the day when the Demon Refining Hall's Heaven and Earth Qiankun Map opened.
As the Capital's Demon Refining Hall, there was a constant stream of exchangers every month.
Because there had been instances in the past where people were attacked and killed shortly after exchanging treasures and leaving, there was a privacy system in place.
Exchangers would write down the item they wished to exchange along with a Qiankun Talisman and put them into a secret compartment, then receive a private room number to wait.
At the appointed time, someone would pack the items and deliver them to the private room.
After stating his needs, Gu Jinlai went to the waiting area's compartment to wait.
The whole process went smoothly without any incidents, and soon, Gu Jinlai had acquired a movement technique.
He browsed through it for a moment and was quite satisfied.
"Worthy of a magic skill exchanged for the merit of thirteen devils."
This was a movement technique that could be combined with over ninety percent of swordsmanship, fist techniques to execute.
Direct and straightforward, with big swings and wide openings.
It was renowned for its explosive and charging power.
Not only was the speed extremely fast, but it also added a touch of might when combined with swordsmanship, fist techniques, or knife skills.
At the entry-level and Small Achievement stages, it increased speed, at Mahayana it could derive explosive techniques—Four Seas, and when cultivated to Perfection, it could use the magic skill—Eight Desolates to turn in eight directions during charges.
Having exchanged for the cultivation technique, he returned to the courtyard and began cultivating patiently.
Yet less than an hour after he returned to the courtyard, Gu Chaoyang came in: "Patriarch, the Jiang Family has sent someone."
Gu Jinlai was rather surprised.
Didn't the people from the Jiang Family say they wouldn't have any more dealings with him?
After pondering for a moment, he said, "Invite them in."
Then he called Su Nanxing and went to the reception hall.
Not long after the two arrived in the reception hall, Gu Chaoyang came with three people.
Jiang Xiyu and Shao Hong, two acquaintances, and a middle-aged man with a profound presence.
Seeing Gu Jinlai, the middle-aged man greeted him with a smile and a clasped fist, "Jiang Lichou pays respects to Heavenly Master Gu."
A piece of information from Yun Guantian flashed through Gu Jinlai's mind.
One of the four Refining Gods of the Jiang Family.
In the absence of Old Master Jiang taking charge, his status was second only to the Family Head, Jiang Tianming.
"Please take a seat,"
Gu Jinlai gestured with an open hand.
Jiang Lichou exchanged pleasantries with Gu Jinlai.
It didn't take long for him to get to the point, "Heavenly Master Gu truly is a dragon among men, not showing off, but when he does, he astonishes everyone. Not only did you effortlessly shift to become a Heavenly Master, but you also refined such impressive Treasure Armor. It is truly a cause for celebration."
Hearing this, Gu Jinlai guessed what was coming, "Immortal Jiang flatters me too much, a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."
"Being able to refine top-grade Treasure Armor with such high efficiency is far from trivial."
As Jiang Lichou spoke, he once again clasped his fist and said, "To be honest, my visit this time is to invite Heavenly Master Gu to join the Jiang Family. As long as Heavenly Master Gu agrees, not only will our Jiang Family speak to Palace Lord Yun on your behalf, but Heavenly Master Gu also need not worry about the Purgatory Sect. Additionally, our Jiang Family is willing to offer an annual salary of a million for Heavenly Master Gu to lead the Jiang Family's Artifact Refining Hall."
"To invite me into the Jiang Family,"
Gu Jinlai wasn't surprised.
The Heavenly Master, while not comparable to the Refining God Immortal in terms of importance, could bring endless wealth to a family.
The key point is that the Supreme Treasure and Spiritual Artifacts crafted by Heavenly Masters often had no set price and were unattainable even if one intended to buy them.
Such strategic resources meant that the birth of any Heavenly Master would be courted by all kinds of powers.
The reason Gu Jinlai had been able to remain undisturbed until now without being invited was, first, because he was low-profile, having only cooperated with the Heavenly Grass Pavilion once without even delivering the goods yet.
Second, he used the surname Jiang for his identity, which led many to assume he was a Jiang Family Heavenly Master.
Before clarifying that he actually had no connection with the Jiang Family, other forces naturally would not act rashly.
"I wonder how the Jiang Family plans to deal with the Demon Refining Hall and the Purgatory Sect."
"It's better to resolve enmities than to create them. Heavenly Master Gu has already converted to a Heavenly Master, fully demonstrating his sincerity in withdrawing from disputes. When the opportunity arises in the future, we'll invite Sect Master Lin to have a meal together. If Heavenly Master Gu apologizes, it will naturally turn hostility into friendship. The same goes for Palace Lord Yun."
Jiang Lichou said with a smile.
Had Gu Jinlai not received the inheritance within the Jade Scroll, he would have agreed with Jiang Lichou's perspective.
But Tianyuan Dao was once a behemoth that sought to dominate Daqian, and the immense value of its sect's inheritance was self-evident. How could they give it up just on the Jiang Family's few words?
"I fear things are not as simple as Immortal Jiang imagines. We can leave Lin Xiao aside for the moment, but resolving the issue with Yun Guantian won't be so simple. Immortal Jiang should see if there is a solution to the problem. When there is one, it won't be too late to invite me to join the Jiang Family."
"Some things are inconvenient to say outright, but once Heavenly Master Gu joins our Jiang Family, we have plenty of ways to mediate."
"I don't doubt the capability of the Jiang Family; I just don't think Lin Xiao and Yun Guantian will let go so easily. If Immortal Jiang truly wants me to join the Jiang Family, you at least need to show me the hope of resolving these two matters."
He was very clear about the thoughts of the Jiang Family members.
First, lure him to the Jiang Family, then find a way to coax out the structure of his carbon steel armor.
Whether to trade Gu Jinlai away or keep him to continue exploiting his value would depend on the resolve of Lin Xiao and Yun Guantian against him.
"Star State is not Red State. Lin Xiao's influence cannot reach Star State; moreover, the City Lord Mansion of Starlight City dominates all around, and the Purgatory Demon Sect can't even stretch its tentacles in. As for the Demon Refining Hall... although it has become a power in its own right, it is still nominally controlled by the State Lord Mansion, and my ninth sister is married into the State Lord Mansion, deeply favored. There is no doubt about the Jiang Family's influence in Star State."
As Jiang Lichou spoke and noticed that Gu Jinlai had no major reaction, he wasn't in a hurry and just smiled, "Heavenly Master Gu, please consider it carefully. My Jiang Family has enough capability to ensure your complete safety."
"I will consider it."
Gu Jinlai gave a perfunctory response.
Soon, Jiang Lichou, along with Jiang Xiyu and Shao Hong, took their leave.
Once they were outside the courtyard, Jiang Xiyu, deep in thought, said, "This Gu Jinlai is probably holding out for a better offer."
"He's thinking too much. Since he's taken on the identity of Jiang Dongqu, he can only choose to join our Jiang Family."
Jiang Lichou said, smiling slightly, "Xiyu, I didn't expect that inadvertently you would manage to secure such a chance for our Jiang Family."
Jiang Xiyu quickly responded humbly, "It was merely a fortuitous coincidence. I just worry that Gu Jinlai might not recognize what's good for him..."
"Ha, if he were still an Elder of the Purgatory Sect, or a Refining God Immortal, I might still have some reservations. But now that he has converted to a Heavenly Master, lost his spirit... plus his own situation is precarious..."
Jiang Lichou said with a smile, "Don't worry, he's already in our Jiang Family's bag."
Seeing this, Jiang Xiyu nodded.
He naturally trusted his uncle's abilities.
"However, delays may bring trouble. I recently heard that the Purgatory Sect's person in charge undercover in our Starlight City seems to have been replaced due to making no achievements. It's hard not to speculate at such a timing that the new person is arranged by Lin Xiao. To prevent Gu Jinlai from being disposed of by the Purgatory Sect before joining our Jiang Family, we need to pressure him."
"What does uncle suggest...?"
"I have my own plan."
There was a hint of indifference on Jiang Lichou's face, "To think I called you Heavenly Master Gu, and you start to see yourself as someone significant. A Heavenly Master without strength or backing, who has a bounty on his head... Reject me? Who gave you the courage."