Stronger by Killing

Chapter 353 - 272: Three Divisions of the Martial World and the Secret of the Grotto Heaven

However, I understand even more that with my lord’s character, in the upcoming disturbances in Yunxi, he will certainly not compromise and will definitely take the initiative to develop toward a third party. With my lord’s spirit, mere Yunxi can absolutely not block his path,

when the time comes, after Yunxi reshuffles in the turmoil, he will inevitably be noticed by the Capital City. Since that is the case, why not go with the flow and strive for more benefits for him, making his path smoother?"

Gu Chuan shook his head and said, "I also know Gu Zhan’s character, but if you have a better way to let him have more time to lie low, why don’t you stop him and let him avoid the turbulence in Yunxi? Must he wade into these troubled waters?"

Rong Yichu shook his head slightly, pondered for a while, and said, "From the moment Yichu pledged himself to my lord, he swore to plan only for him in this life. For those who serve, how could there be any reason to stop the lord? How could one affect the lord’s decision?"

Gu Chuan shook his head and said, "But you can’t just watch him heading into danger. Since you are so devoted to Gu Zhan, you must know that his strengths are also his weaknesses, being overly arrogant and self-confident. Knowing his character flaws, you shouldn’t fail to stop loss in time, it’s too inappropriate!"

Rong Yichu took a sip of tea and said, "For those best at scheming, they should understand one truth: the lord is not a Saint and cannot be perfect, so what is planned should take into account the issues that the lord’s character might bring. If this cannot be considered, then how do you qualify as a strategist?"

Gu Chuan said solemnly, "Can you guarantee the success of the Yunxi strategy by thirty percent?"

"I cannot," Rong Yichu said.

"Then aren’t you just spouting nonsense? As a strategist, shouldn’t you put the lord’s safety first?" Gu Chuan said, "Shouldn’t you prevent him from getting involved in the upcoming turmoil in Yunxi?"

Rong Yichu chuckled lightly and said, "This... Lord Gu, you and my lord are close friends, and you understand my lord’s character very well. Do you think it can be stopped? He is now the Palm Seal of the Beidou Bang and is about to take over the Beidou Bang. Given his character, where do you think he will lead the Beidou Bang?"

"This..." Gu Chuan hesitated and said, "I’m afraid it’s very difficult."

"There you have it," Rong Yichu said. "Since you already know the lord won’t accept the best strategy, why must I insist on implementing it? Why not try to perfect the middle strategy instead?"

Gu Chuan opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but didn’t know how to refute it. After a long while, he said slowly, "Alright, Mr. Rong, you’re quite right. No wonder since you returned from the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, my seventh sister said you have become a talent akin to a king’s counselor!"

Rong Yichu smiled and said, "Miss Gu Qi has overpraised me. Yichu just has a bit of cleverness, not worthy of being called a king’s counselor."

Gu Chuan said, "My seventh sister rarely misjudges people. However, I still have one doubt. Qin You has provided many master craftsmen for Gu Zhan, but to produce battle armor and warships that meet military standards and to purchase warhorses and so on, the required money and resources, Beidou Bang simply cannot afford it. Although Beidou Bang has a big name, it’s only been around for a few decades and lacks foundation to support such large consumption."

Rong Yichu chuckled lightly and said, "I’m not worried, nor will my lord be."

"Why?" Gu Chuan was puzzled.

Rong Yichu spoke softly, "The fastest way to build an elite unit is definitely not through intense training, but by fostering war through war, the survival of the fittest. Similarly, the most effective way to accumulate foundation is not through slow accumulation over time, but through conquest and plunder!"

Gu Chuan’s pupils contracted slightly, staring intently at the person in front of him, feeling inexplicably apprehensive in his heart.

He had known Rong Yichu since his time in Linjiang City, but they weren’t familiar then, and he looked down on a patriarch from an inconspicuous noble family.

It wasn’t until last year, when Rong Yichu came to visit him in the Capital City with a letter from Gu Zhan, that he found this Rong Yichu was like a completely different person from the one he met in Linjiang City. He had improved significantly in many aspects, and due to Gu Zhan, they became friends.

Later, Rong Yichu entered the Jixia Academy and progressed rapidly, and the relationship between them grew closer.

But at that time, Gu Chuan only thought of Rong Yichu as a young talent with great potential who would achieve something in the future.

However, since his return from the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, Rong Yichu became a teacher in the academy’s rear courtyard, gaining fame in the Capital City,

after which,

Gu Chuan gradually discovered that he couldn’t see through Rong Yichu anymore. The person was still the same, the exchanges were the same, but often in hindsight, the more he pondered their exchanges, the more he found something amiss and found Rong Yichu’s intentions unfathomable.

What shook him most was that beneath Rong Yichu’s progressively gentle and jade-like exterior, the things he believed in were often very harsh, completely unlike the Rong Yichu from before, as if he had become a different person.

"Mr. Rong," Gu Chuan said quietly after a long silence, "actually, I’m very puzzled. During your time at the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, what exactly did you experience? Why, after merely a few days, do I feel as though I haven’t seen you in many years?"

Rong Yichu pondered for a while and said, "Lord Gu, doesn’t your Gu Family also have a similar sacred inheriting ground like the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning?"

Gu Chuan nodded,

as the Gu Family is one of the four great families of Great Xia, the most prestigious of noble families, having a thousand-year legacy with its own sacred inheritance naturally.

Rong Yichu continued, "Within Great Xia, all Three Sects, Four Families, and Eight Great Sects have sacred inheritance grounds, each with a different form. The biggest opportunity in the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning is the Wen Sheng Legacy.

And what I obtained is the Wen Sheng Legacy. As to what exactly is the Wen Sheng Legacy, I cannot explain. I can only say simply, although it looked like I only spent a few days in the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, I studied for many years!"

Gu Chuan nodded and said, "It sounds a bit like our Gu Family’s Blessed Land, where someone who hadn’t practiced Martial Arts can emerge as a great master in just a few days."

"That’s roughly what it means," Rong Yichu poured a cup of tea for Gu Chuan and said, "By the way, Lord Gu, when you mentioned the Gu Family’s Blessed Land, it reminded me that some disciples were discussing the Grotto Heaven Realm Land Immortal in the academy’s rear courtyard a few days ago. They said that apart from the Three Sects, Four Families, and Eight Great Sects, there is no Grotto Heaven Technique within Great Xia?"

Gu Chuan shook his head and said, "Actually, you really asked the wrong person. I only know that to become a Land Immortal of the Grotto Heaven Realm, one needs Immortal Fate. Many people, even if they are exceptionally gifted, cannot become Land Immortals, while some with mediocre talent may have the chance to achieve Land Immortal, which is rather mystical.

As for why or what is the Grotto Heaven Method, I do not know. Not to mention myself, even the current Patriarch of our Gu Family, my sister, doesn’t know."

Rong Yichu asked in confusion, "That’s unlikely, isn’t it? Miss Gu Qi was the one who single-handedly pulled the Gu Family back from the brink of collapse, and now everyone in the family respects her words. She is the Patriarch; what secret could there be she doesn’t know?"

Gu Chuan shook his head and said, "It’s different, not just our Gu Family, but all those families and sects with Land Immortals are the same. The Grotto Heaven Technique and secrets are always held by the Land Immortals themselves, and they wouldn’t reveal them."

"Then how are they passed on?" Rong Yichu asked with a puzzled expression.

"They personally select a qualified inheritor from within the clan, and it has always been this way through the generations."

After speaking, Gu Chuan looked at Rong Yichu, pondered for a while, and said, "Mr. Rong, I know you want to seek the Grotto Heaven Method for Gu Zhan. I can only say that this is the most essential reason major forces can remain aloof—family members don’t even know, let alone outsiders. If you truly wish to explore, you can only find another way!"

The breeze gently blew through the courtyard.

Gu Chuan and Rong Yichu chatted for a while longer before someone from the Ministry of Revenue called Gu Chuan away.

Rong Yichu stood at the doorway, watching Gu Chuan and his entourage leave. His eyes flickered slightly as he muttered in a low voice:

"I don’t believe that during a catastrophe, those Land Immortals will be able to keep the Secret of the Grotto Heaven to themselves without revealing it!"