"Mother, I know. But Zhao Wuji’s cultivation is quite impressive. Can’t you make an exception for him?"
Gongsun Yanran said helplessly, "Xuan’Er, he is a Body Refiner."
Ye Xuan frowned. He knew that in this world, Body Refiners had the lowliest status because everyone knew that a pure Body Refiner couldn’t go far. They had to come up with all sorts of methods to stimulate and torment their flesh, just to have a chance at making their bodies stronger. However, this kind of strength had a limit.
In the long history of the Moyue Kingdom, a truly powerful Body Refiner had never emerged. Ancient books might mention peerless experts who refined their bodies like precious artifacts, but they had only achieved such terrifying feats by soaking their bodies in countless medicinal herbs. However, the method for such medicinal baths had long been lost to time. Zhao Wuji’s limit was likely right where he was now.
Ye Xuan said nothing. He suddenly turned and walked away.
"Xuan’Er, where are you going?"
"To find Grandfather."
More than ten minutes later, in the main courtyard.
Gongsun Wenjin was relaxing in the shade of the courtyard. Fine tea and pastries were set out on a small tea table beside him.
"Instead of resting properly, you’ve come to find me. Is something the matter?" Gongsun Wenjin was a little surprised to see Ye Xuan.
"Grandfather, I wanted to ask: if someone reaches the top ten, can they change their surname to Gongsun?"
Gongsun Wenjin suddenly perked up and sat straight up. With a gleam in his eyes, he asked, "Are you going to change your surname to Gongsun?"
Ye Xuan shook his head. "Not me. I’m just asking."
The light in Gongsun Wenjin’s eyes vanished instantly. Truthfully, if Ye Xuan wanted to change his surname to Gongsun, he would absolutely agree. No younger generation member in the Gongsun Family could compare to Ye Xuan’s talent. If he took the Gongsun surname and willingly stayed with the Gongsun Family, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the family at all. In fact, he would pour all his resources into nurturing Ye Xuan.
Swallowing his disappointment, he replied, "This rule does exist. It was set by our ancestors."
Ye Xuan spoke again, "By entering the top ten, I’ve earned the right to change my surname to Gongsun. But since I don’t want to change my surname, can I give this qualification to someone else?"
"Someone else? Are you talking about Zhao Wuji?"
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Why? Do you know him?"
"No."
"Then why make such a proposal?"
"I just think that the effort and sweat he has poured in deserve acknowledgment from you as the Patriarch."
Gongsun Wenjin chuckled softly and asked, "Why should I acknowledge him?"
"Because you need to let the people of the Gongsun Family know that the harder they work, the luckier they get. As the Patriarch, you see everyone’s hard work. If heaven won’t take pity on those who strive, you should."
"What a bold statement: ’If heaven won’t take pity on those who strive, I will.’ You’ve spouted such a grand philosophy that I actually don’t know how to refute it. But, do you know how many people are in the Gongsun Family?"
"I don’t."
"A hundred and eighty thousand."
"That many?"
"Exactly that many. Among these one hundred and eighty thousand people, there is no shortage of hard workers, especially among the Side Branches in the outer courtyards. They can only remain in the Gongsun Family by working hard. So, why should I elevate Zhao Wuji and not someone else? After all, he’s merely a Body Refiner."
"Elevating him holds more symbolic meaning. Body Refiners have the lowest status. By promoting someone of the lowest standing, you’d be telling everyone that as long as they work hard and grow, regardless of their background or status, they can rise above the rest."
Gongsun Wenjin said flatly, "If I promote him and ignore the others, isn’t that unfair to everyone else who works hard? Besides, you’re too young. You don’t understand that a major clan like our Gongsun Family doesn’t need to promote people just because they work hard."
"Grandfather..."
"Don’t try to explain, just listen to me. If a Cultivator needs someone else set up as a role model to remind them to work hard, how far can they really go, even if they do grow? Once they surpass their target, they’ll become complacent and lose all direction. A role model is indeed a source of motivation. But our Gongsun Family doesn’t need that kind of motivation at all—unless they want to be kicked out of the family! Ah, Ye Xuan, do you think the Gongsun Family is as weak as your Ye Family? In this world, only weak families lack competition, and only they harbor so many mediocre people who love to slack off."
Gongsun Wenjin’s final sentence carried a distinct hint of mockery. Ye Xuan was visibly unconvinced. Just as he was about to speak, Gongsun Wenjin opened his mouth again.
"Well, we have some free time anyway. Come on, I’ll take you to see the Side Branches."
Gongsun Wenjin whistled, and a Snow Eagle swooped down into the courtyard.
"Get on."
Ye Xuan frowned, then leaped onto the Snow Eagle’s back. The giant bird took to the sky, soaring high above the Gongsun Mansion.
The Gongsun Mansion was truly massive, comparable in size to a major town. The Snow Eagle flew for quite a while before reaching the courtyards where the Side Branches resided. These courtyard complexes were a labyrinth, layered three deep inside and out. Without ascending to a high altitude, it was impossible to take them all in at a glance.
"Ye Xuan, it’s currently Noon. How much cooking smoke do you see?" Gongsun Wenjin asked suddenly.
Ye Xuan was slightly taken aback. Across the sprawling outer courtyards, there were genuinely very few families cooking meals.
Gongsun Wenjin directed the eagle to descend a little lower, then pointed into one of the courtyards. At this moment, the sun was scorching. One by one, young children were sitting cross-legged under the blazing sun, meditating and practicing their breathing exercises.
"Dad, I’m so hot! I can’t take it anymore!" a little boy cried out loudly.
The moment the words left his mouth, a whip lashed down, leaving a stark red welt on the boy’s body.
"Hot? Endure it!"
"But it’s so tiring."
"Tiring? Which of them isn’t tired? Meditative breathing is the most fundamental aspect of cultivation. Only by mastering it can you practice powerful Inner Power Heart Methods in the future. The grade of your Inner Power Heart Method will be incredibly important for your future! It will follow you for almost your entire life."
"But, Daddy..."
CRACK! Another lash fell.
"Shut your mouth! If you don’t work hard, others will surpass you. If our overall strength doesn’t improve, we’ll be kicked out of the Gongsun Family! Even the geniuses are working hard; what excuse do we have to be lazy? Remember this: your father isn’t forcing you to work hard so you can rank at the top. I don’t expect you to be extraordinary—I just pray you aren’t dead last!"
The Snow Eagle flew further and further. In every courtyard, there were people cultivating, and the children were no exception. Along the way, Ye Xuan barely saw anyone enjoying leisure time. The people of the Side Branches were either cultivating themselves or teaching their children to cultivate.
"Do you think there’s anyone in my Gongsun Family who doesn’t work hard?" Gongsun Wenjin’s voice floated over again. "Those who didn’t work hard, or who believed that effort was useless, were eliminated long ago."
Hearing this, Ye Xuan remained silent. The scenes he had just witnessed had left too great an impact on him. Everyone wanted to enter the city, and everyone wanted to become part of the City Lord’s Mansion. But who could have imagined that these envied figures actually lived harsher lives than outsiders did?
The Snow Eagle circled the Side Branches’ territory before swiftly landing back in the main courtyard.
"Well? Do you still think I should elevate Zhao Wuji?"
Ye Xuan remained silent, his heart in turmoil. After seeing how the people of the Gongsun Family’s Side Branches lived, he suddenly felt that the Ye Family was far too fortunate. They did absolutely nothing. All they had to do was eat well, drink well, and have fun. Ye Xuan would take it upon himself to find all the resources they needed. He suddenly wondered if what he had been doing was truly right.