NOVPUB
Chapter 433: Chapter 429: True Self
Yuntian Building.
A top-notch restaurant in the Inner City, well-known far and wide.
Not only does it offer a variety of delicacies from all over the Holy Dynasty, but it also provides treatments that ordinary people can hardly enjoy.
Here, each attendant, male or female, is meticulously selected and specially trained.
Of course, those who can afford to dine here are not ordinary people.
Coming here once costs thousands of taels at least.
If there are more people, it could easily amount to tens of thousands of taels of silver.
And this might well be the annual income of a single Refining God Immortal.
At this moment, Martial King Bai Ziyu, Young Master Bai Ziyun, and several high-level members of the Bai Family were waiting in a private room with walls of white jade and lamps of colored glass.
Soon, another man of extraordinary appearance and inherent authority walked in from outside.
Seeing the man enter, Bai Ziyu, Bai Ziyun, and several high-ranking members of the Bai Family stood up at the same time.
"Family Head."
"Mmm."
The man responded and sat down at the head of the table.
He was the real magic stabilizer of the Bai Family.
He was also the assurance that the Bai Family would soon become a power in the Inner City, already dominating the Outer City District—the Devas, Bai Fengyu.
A high-level Deva who had already mastered Divine Skills.
When Bai Fengyu arrived at the private room and swept his gaze over the room to see it filled with members of the Bai Family, he frowned, "Has Gu Jinlai not arrived yet?"
"We have already sent someone to inform him, but it might take some time to come from the Outer City..."
Bai Ziyu hurriedly said.
"I, as a Special Level Demon Slayer of the Demon-slaying Hall, usually go outside the city to slay Devils and protect Wind and Rain City. My time is exceedingly precious. If he wastes even a minute of my time, maybe I could have slain dozens more Devils, preventing countless deaths. Can he afford to bear this responsibility?"
With a sharp wave of his hand, Bai Fengyu said, "Send someone to urge him to come immediately! Our Bai Family is willing to talk to him, giving him face. We do not want things to get stiff, but if he truly enrages me, I will make him unable to stay in his position as Deputy District Chief."
"Yes, I will have someone urge him right away."
As Bai Ziyu spoke, he turned to Bai Ziyun next to him, "Go ask Zihan why it’s taking so long to bring him here."
Bai Ziyun nodded, stood up, and was about to leave when suddenly there was a panic-stricken shout from outside: "It’s terrible, Family Head!"
Immediately after, Bai Zihan walked in from outside, fearful and angry: "Family Head, that Gu Jinlai is out of control, even though we made it clear to him that we wished to discuss matters thoroughly with him at Yuntian Building, he didn’t hesitate to order a raid on our Bai Family. Some of our elders and stewards went to stop him, only to be ruthlessly slaughtered by him..."
"What!?"
Bai Ziyun and the others couldn’t help but exclaim, "A raid on the Bai Family! Has he gone mad?"
"How dare he!"
Bai Fengyu also couldn’t help but stand up furiously, "Gu Jinlai is courting death!"
Although Martial King Bai Ziyu was shocked for a moment, he quickly calmed down, "Raiding the Bai Family means they are leaving us with no way out, completely breaking off relations. If Gu Jinlai is not a fool, he would never do such a thing of extermination..."
As he said this, he turned to Bai Fengyu, "Is it possible that some bigshot has targeted our Bai Family?"
Bai Fengyu, having listened, gradually cooled down as well.
Devas are different from Martial Kings.
Although the process of accumulating Undying Will is extremely self-focused, it’s not about confronting the desires within oneself like for Martial Kings.
He considered the actions of the Bai Family over the years...
"Our Bai Family has been quite aggressive in its rise, but isn’t it the same with other powers? And as long as I, Bai Fengyu, do not fall, the Bai Family cannot possibly be targeted."
Bai Fengyu’s expression turned cold.
He is a Deva.
A Deva’s status in the Holy Dynasty surpasses that of a Martial King by a notch, and a newly promoted Deva could be on par with a Peak Martial King.
A high-level Deva...
Even a Martial Saint would regard them with high esteem.
Those who have mastered Divine Skills and the power of Heaven and Earth to the ultimate degree, and also cultivated an Undying Will, can be on an equal footing with a Martial Saint.
If they also possess two Dao Artifacts, top-grade Dao Artifacts, supreme Daoist Artifacts, and push their rank up to Seventh Rank, Eighth Rank, Ninth Rank, they could even temporarily clash with a Martial Saint.
Bai Fengyu might not reach that level, but...
His future achievements, however, are incomparable to any Martial King.
"This Gu Jinlai, where did he come from, and who is behind him?"
Bai Fengyu said.
"Gu Jinlai fled here from the outside world, entering our Wind and Rain City just a few months ago. If he has sought refuge with anyone in these months, it could only be with the Martial Saint Institute," speculated Bai Ziyu.
"It can’t be the Martial Saint Institute. Before coming to us, Gu Jinlai also raided the Fang Family, whose backer Fang Yan is a Martial Saint of the Martial Saint Institute. They wouldn’t attack their own people," immediately said Fang Zihan.
"Fang Family was also destroyed by him?"
Bai Ziyu looked shocked, "Wan Tianlie and Fang Butong are not newbie Martial Kings. For Gu Jinlai to kill them so swiftly... he must have the strength of at least a Top Martial King, possibly even..."
"Even if he is a Peak Martial King, so what."
Bai Fengyu waved his hand assertively, "Check, find out definitively if there is anyone behind him. If there isn’t, daring to raid our Bai Family, all he has ahead is a dead end."
...
Outside the Bai Mansion.
Massive quantities of resources were being moved out.
On both sides, all members of the Bai Family were trembling with fear, and no one dared to intervene.
"Another two billion has been raided from the Bai Family."
Tang Zhengxiao found Gu Jinlai who had just washed the blood off his sword.
"Hmm."
Gu Jinlai nodded, "List out some of the most valuable and easy-to-carry resources, I need them."
Upon hearing this, Tang Zhengxiao was slightly stunned, then seemingly thought of something and quickly said, "I’ll go right now."
When Gu Jinlai returned to the Law Enforcement Court, Tang Zhengxiao had some of the supplies packed in boxes, "Dean, they are all here. This part of the supplies is worth close to four hundred million."
"Acceptable."
Gu Jinlai, carrying the box, said, "From now on, push everything to me if anything arises, and if someone comes asking, direct them to me."
"Understood."
Tang Zhengxiao nodded.
The Law Enforcement Court had obliterated the three most powerful families in the Southeast Outer City District, a storm was inevitably going to sweep through the Outer City District.
The Outer City District had close ties with the Inner City, and such upheavals would inevitably lead to accountability inquiries from the Inner City, something he clearly understood.
Whether the Law Enforcement Court could rise up completely depended on whether this Manor Master Gu could withstand the pressure from the Inner City.
Gu Jinlai departed soon after.
Less than a few minutes after his departure, another Deputy District Chief, Zhen Chuanzong, rushed over, loudly demanding, "Where is District Master Gu? Where is he? Call him out."
"District Master Gu has gone to the Inner City. District Chief Zhen, if you have matters, perhaps wait until District Master Gu returns for a detailed discussion."
Tang Zhengxiao responded as instructed by Gu Jinlai.
"Not here? He caused such a huge mess and thinks to simply walk away?"
Zhen Chuanzong spoke sternly.
He knew Gu Jinlai’s arrival to their Southeast Outer City District was bound to cause some disturbances, but he did not expect it to be this big.
To directly wipe out the Fang Family, Wan Family, and Bai Family!?
These were the largest forces in their Southeast Outer City District.
They had not been stingy with their respects to them, the district chiefs.
Yet, now they were uprooted all at once by Gu Jinlai...
How could he, the real managing and presiding District Chief, save face!?
"Damn it!"
Zhen Chuanzong’s eyes burned with anger as he glanced at numerous supplies still being moved to the Law Enforcement Court, and he immediately said, "The Wan Family, Fang Family, and Bai Family are all big clans, star enterprises of our Southeast Outer City District. District Master Gu seized the three families without explanation, what huge impact does this have on our Southeast Outer City District? Send these things back immediately!"
"We are not in charge of this matter. Why not wait for District Master Gu to return and discuss it with him in detail?"
Tang Zhengxiao said.
"Hm!?"
Zhen Chuanzong’s gaze fell on Tang Zhengxiao, filled with oppression, "Are you defying my orders!?"
"I dare not, absolutely not,"
Tang Zhengxiao quickly said, "But these items...to some extent are akin to District Master Gu’s war trophies, he executed the leaders of the Wan Family, Fang Family, Bai Family, two Martial Kings, and dozens of Martial Sects, Primordial Spirit Monarchs before seizing them. If we just send them back...once District Master Gu investigates this, we won’t be able to explain ourselves."
He emphasized the words "two Martial Kings," as if to portend a reminder.
And in his anger, Zhen Chuanzong, hearing this, actually calmed down.
Gu Jinlai’s strength was apparently not as he had previously understood, at most a high-level Martial King.
He had killed Wan Tianlie and Fang Butong, his strength—at least that of a top Martial King, perhaps even a Peak Martial King.
Such a formidable powerhouse...
"District Master Gu has already taken some goods and headed straight for the Inner City... it shouldn’t take much time. District Chief Zhen, what do you think about waiting a while longer?"
Tang Zhengxiao reiterated the reminder, hinting at the words "With some goods."
It seemed like it was hinting that someone was directing Gu Jinlai’s actions.
"Someone is behind Gu Jinlai..."
Zhen Chuanzong couldn’t tell if it was true or not.
But his previously furious demeanor quickly subsided.
Gu Jinlai’s actions were too insane.
But if someone was directing him, that would completely make sense.
Before the situation became clear, it was best to be cautious, to avoid offending someone they shouldn’t.
Thinking this, Zhen Chuanzong waved his hand, "Then I will wait until District Master Gu returns to see what he has to say."
...
By this time, Gu Jinlai had already arrived at Martial Saint Institute with the suitcase.
As soon as he arrived at Martial Saint Institute, a student immediately called him to Dean Yan Lie’s office.
Looking at the composed Gu Jinlai, the Deputy Dean, responsible for handling the major and minor affairs of the Martial Saint Institute, was speechless.
"The disturbance you caused in the Southeast Outer City District was too large. Have you thought about how this will end?"
Yan Lie questioned.
However, Gu Jinlai did not directly answer, only saying, "During my time studying at Martial Saint Institute, I have had much to reflect on. Perhaps, benefiting from the life-and-death experiences over the years, I seem to have begun to understand how to solidify my Martial Arts Will."
"Hmm!?"
Yan Lie was taken aback, then asked in surprise, "You... have found your direction?"
Solidifying Martial Arts Will, the first step, was to find a direction, to face the true self.
With a direction, one could follow the heart, seek the true self, then subdue the true self, unify with it, and solidify the Martial Arts Will.
The beginning is the hardest part.
Many Martial Kings spend their lives stuck on this step, unable to find the real "true self," making errors and being dominated by desires, eventually becoming Out-of-Control and hunted down.
"Yes!"
Gu Jinlai nodded emphatically, "Maintaining legal justice and order stability, that is my true inner heart!"
