Coming to the Door

Gu Jinlai calculated the time.

Today happened to be the day the Demon Refining Hall opened the Heaven and Earth Universe Diagram.

As the Demon Refining Hall of the capital city, exchangers came in a continuous stream every month.

Because there had been an incident years ago where someone exchanged for a treasure and was immediately ambushed and killed upon leaving, there was a privacy system here.

Exchangers wrote down what they needed to exchange, passed it into a hidden compartment along with a Universe Talisman, and received a cubicle room number.

At that time, someone would pack the items and send them to the cubicle.

After writing down his requirements, Gu Jinlai headed to the waiting area's cubicle to wait.

The entire process did not give rise to any complications, and soon, Gu Jinlai had obtained a movement technique.

Ranging Across the World.

He flipped through it for a moment and was quite satisfied.

As expected of a technique exchanged for the merits of thirteen demonic beasts.

This was a movement technique that could be deployed in conjunction with over ninety percent of swordsmanship and fist techniques.

Straightforward and unyielding, grand and majestic.

It was renowned for explosive power and charging force.

Not only was its speed extremely fast, but when coordinated with swordsmanship, fist techniques, and saber techniques, it could also add an extra layer of imposing momentum.

It provided a boost to speed at the entry and minor accomplishment stages, and upon reaching major accomplishment, it could spawn the explosive method—Four Seas. Once cultivated to perfection, it could even use the method—Eight Desolations, to pivot in all directions while charging into battle.

Having exchanged for the cultivation method, he returned to the courtyard to cultivate it patiently.

And less than an hour after he returned to the courtyard, Gu Zhaoyang walked in. "Ancestor, someone from the Jiang household is here."

"The Jiang household?"

Gu Jinlai was somewhat surprised.

Hadn't the people from the Jiang household made it clear that they would no longer have any entanglement with him?

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 at the reception hall, Gu Zhaoyang led three people over.

Jiang Xiyu and Shao Hong, two acquaintances, along with a middle-aged man with a robust aura.

Seeing Gu Jinlai, the middle-aged man cupped his fists with a smile. "Jiang Lichou has met Celestial Master Gu."

Gu Jinlai's mind flashed with that piece of intelligence from Yun Guantian.

Jiang Lichou.

One of the Jiang household's four great spirit refining experts.

With Elder Jiang taking a hands-off approach, his weight second only to household head Jiang Tianming.

"Please sit."

Gu Jinlai made a welcoming gesture with his hand.

Jiang Lichou and Gu Jinlai exchanged pleasantries for a while.

Before long, they gradually entered the main topic. "Celestial Master Gu is truly a dragon among men. He stays silent until he makes a splash, not only smoothly transitioning to a celestial master, but also forging body armor with such outstanding performance. It is truly a double-blessed occasion for celebration."

Hearing this, Gu Jinlai guessed something. "You flatter me, True Person Jiang. It's a mere trifle, not worth mentioning."

"To be able to forge superior-grade spirit armor, and with such high production efficiency, is far from being as simple as a trifle."

As Jiang Lichou spoke, he cupped his fists again. "To tell you the truth, I have come this time to invite Celestial Master Gu to join our Jiang household. As long as Celestial Master Gu agrees, not only will we step forward to smooth things over with Palace Master Yun, but even regarding the Purgatory Sect, Celestial Master Gu will have no need to worry. In addition, our Jiang household is willing to offer a million-year salary to invite Celestial Master Gu to lead the Jiang household's weapon-refining hall."

"Invite me to join the Jiang household."

Gu Jinlai did not feel surprised.

A celestial master could not compare to a spirit refining true person in terms of weight, but every celestial master could bring a rolling stream of financial resources to a family.

The key was that supreme-grade magic tools and spirit artifacts forged by celestial masters often had a price but no market, impossible to buy even if one wanted them.

These strategic resources meant that the birth of any celestial master would draw solicitation from all sides.

The reason Gu Jinlai had been able to live in peace until now without being invited was, firstly, that he kept a low profile, cooperating with Heavenly Herb Pavilion only once and not yet delivering the goods.

Secondly, the identity he used bore the surname Jiang, and many people regarded him as a celestial master of the Jiang household.

Before figuring out that he actually had no relation to the Jiang household, other forces naturally would not act rashly.

"The Demon Refining Hall and the Purgatory Sect—I wonder how the Jiang household plans to handle them?"

Gu Jinlai said.

"Enmities should be resolved rather than deepened. Celestial Master Gu has already transitioned to a celestial master, fully demonstrating your sincerity in withdrawing from the disputes. In the future, when a suitable opportunity arises, we will invite Sect Master Lin over, and everyone can sit down for a meal. If Celestial Master Gu lowers his head and apologizes, naturally enmity can be turned into friendship, and the same goes for Palace Master Yun's side."

Jiang Lichou said with a smile.

If Gu Jinlai had not obtained the inheritance within the jade slip, he would certainly have agreed with Jiang Lichou's statement.

However, Tianyuan Dao was a colossal entity that had once wanted to take charge of Great Qian. How high could the value of its sect inheritance be? Would it give up because of a few words from the Jiang household?

"Things are probably not as simple as True Person Jiang thinks. Putting Lin Xiao aside for the moment, Yun Guantian's side is not so easily resolved. True Person Jiang should go and see if there is a way to solve the problem first, and when there is a way, it won't be too late to come and invite me to join the Jiang household."

Gu Jinlai said.

"Some things are not good to say out in the open, but as long as Celestial Master Gu joins our Jiang household, we have plenty of ways to maneuver around it."

"I am not doubting the Jiang household's capability, but I do not believe that Lin Xiao and Yun Guantian will let the matter rest easily. If True Person Jiang truly wants to invite me into the Jiang household, you must at least let me see the Jiang household's hope of resolving these two matters."

Gu Jinlai said.

He knew the Jiang people's thoughts very well.

First coax him into the Jiang household, then find a way to extract his carbon steel armor structure.

After that...

Whether to hand Gu Jinlai over or keep him to continue squeezing out his value would depend on Lin Xiao and Yun Guantian's determination to deal with him.

"Star Province is not Chi Province; Lin Xiao's influence cannot reach Star Province. What's more, the Star City Lord Mansion suppresses all directions, and the Purgatory Demon Sect cannot even extend its tentacles in here. As for the Demon Refining Hall... although it has become a faction, nominally it is subject to the control of the provincial governor's estate, and my ninth younger sister is married into the provincial governor's estate and is deeply favored. The Jiang household's power in Star Province is unquestionable."

Jiang Lichou said, seeing that Gu Jinlai did not have much of a reaction, he was not in a hurry either, only smiling. "Celestial Master Gu should consider it carefully; our Jiang household has sufficient ability to ensure your safety."

"I will consider it."

Gu Jinlai gave a perfunctory response.

Soon, Jiang Lichou, Jiang Xiyu, and Shao Hong took their leave and departed.

Once out of the courtyard, Jiang Xiyu said thoughtfully, "This Gu Jinlai is probably holding out for a better offer."

"He's overthinking it. Since he adopted the identity of Jiang Dongqu, he has no choice but to choose to join our Jiang household."

Jiang Lichou said with a slight smile, "Xiyu, I wouldn't have thought that you, quite unintentionally, could actually win such an opportunity for our Jiang household."

"You flatter me, Second Uncle."

Jiang Xiyu hurriedly and modestly responded, "I only stumbled into it by chance. I'm just afraid this Gu Jinlai might not know what's good for him..."

"Hmph, if he were still a Purgatory Sect elder, or a spirit refining true person, I might still have to be somewhat wary. But since he has already transitioned to a celestial master, losing his spirit... coupled with his own precarious predicament..."

Jiang Lichou smiled. "Rest assured, he is already in the palm of our Jiang household's hand."

Seeing this, Jiang Xiyu nodded.

He naturally trusted his second uncle's capability.

"However, delays breed changes. I received news not long ago that the Purgatory Sect's person in charge lurking in our Star City seems to have been replaced on the grounds of having achieved nothing. Changing people at a time like this makes it hard not to suspect that the new person in charge is an operative arranged by Lin Xiao. Lest this Gu Jinlai gets his house cleaned out by the Purgatory Sect before he even enters our Jiang household, we must apply a bit of pressure to him."

"Second Uncle means..."

"I have my own plans."

A trace of indifference surfaced on Jiang Lichou's face. "To think that just because I called you Celestial Master Gu, you actually regard yourself as somebody? A celestial master with no strength and no background, still carrying a bounty on your head... Refusing me? Who gave you the courage?"