Changling's return

"Yes. From the day Quan Yong set foot there, my family had no way out."

Gao Gonglu sighed, raised his head, and looked at Gao Gongjin's face. "What do you intend to do?"

Gao Gongjin's eyes remained calm, as if he had already thought everything through. He said softly, "Let's meet with the younger generation first, and then make our plans."

Gao Gonglu didn't know what he was planning, but he didn't ask any further questions.

He said, "Today happens to be the day of the sacrifice. If you'd like, let's go and take a look together."

Soon after, Gao Gonglu and Gao Gongjin arrived at the altar for the sacrifice. Gao Gonglu presided over the sacrifice at the steps, while Gao Gongjin concealed himself and stood far away in a corner, watching the altar.

In this generation Gao Household barely managed to gather seven disciples capable of cultivating.

Most of them are of mediocre talent, and have only just begun to understand the basics. Compared to Gao Huan, they seem to have even less talent.

However, Gao Gongjin knew Gao Huan's background and did not feel that there was anything wrong with his own son because of it.

He gazed at the seven boys from afar.

The one standing at the very front was Gao Changchen, the second son of his elder brother Gao Gonglu. He stood there with a certain composure.

Although this boy's talent for cultivation is not outstanding, he can still cultivate. Gao Gonglu has been intentionally grooming him to become the Household Head.

Pei.

Of the remaining few, two had recently discovered their talent for cultivation and switched from Lesser Lineage to a major sect. One had his hands hanging down and his back bent, not daring to raise his head, while the other had a tense body, stiff shoulders and back, and fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

During a sacrificial ceremony, they were temporarily pulled onto the stage. A slight misstep could implicate their entire lineage and their maternal clan. Before going on stage, their parents had already given them some instructions.

Gao Gongjin stared at the seven children on the stage, his eyes darkening. "Among my descendants, is there not a single one who is capable?"

Gao Gongjin left quietly.

The boy who had previously kept his head down, not daring to raise it, was not as timid and fearful as he had imagined. His eyes were now filled with shock and horror as he looked down at his own hands, fair and delicate, without any calluses from years of stringing. He couldn't help but say, "Was this when I first joined the sect and was brought here for the sacrifice?"

Gao Changling was oblivious to the changes that had occurred to him.

It was as if a voice from the Unseen told him.

He was reborn.

When that voice fell, all his thoughts were calmed down, and he calmly accepted the incredible fact that he had been reborn.

He glanced around at the scene out of the corner of his eye, secretly thinking, "Right now should be the time when those Ming Beasts are attacking Huaishuo Town. Uncle Gao Gongjin will soon go to the open entrance on the outer edge of the Hunting Grounds to block the Ming Beast. When they are exhausted, someone will appear and kill them. After that, the Gao Household will be swallowed up by the Yuchi Household, and the Golden Bow Gao will perish—"

I pondered this memory carefully.

Gao Changling's eyes hardened. "Given this fortuitous opportunity to start over, I can't just stand by and watch the Gao perish."

But what can I do now?

Gao Changling recalled that at this time in his previous life, he had just been transferred from Lesser Lineage of the family to the main branch. His mother and father had instructed him to be deeply afraid of both the sacrificial rites and Gao Gonglu, who was far away, fearing that the slightest mistake in his actions would bring disaster to his Ning Household.

"Looking back on my past life, I didn't do anything wrong. But looking at it now, I seem too timid, cautious, cowardly, and weak. Moreover, the timing of this sacrificial ceremony is obviously wrong, especially the fact that they called the seven of us up. Perhaps it was my uncle Gao Gongjin, who wanted to see the quality of the younger generation before he left. Is he secretly watching this scene from somewhere right now?"

Thinking of this, Gao Changling straightened his back involuntarily.

A pair of eyes met Gao Gonglu's gaze.

Gao Gonglu noticed that he did not shy away from his gaze, displaying a dignified and unyielding demeanor.

For some reason, his eyes lacked the childishness of a young man; instead, they revealed an inexplicable determination that reminded him of Gao Gongjin in his childhood.

A hint of approval involuntarily appeared in his eyes.

He naturally recognized the child.

When he was transferred from Lesser Lineage to a major branch, I personally received him, but I never realized he had such magnanimity.

Gong Jin should have seen it by now, right?

Gao Gonglu naturally knew what Gao Gongjin's intentions were in meeting with the younger generation of his Ning Household.

In fact, of these seven people, the only one he could consider worthy of his attention was Gao Changchen. It wasn't because of his resilient character, but because he was relatively stable and quiet. Even if he had to choose the tallest among the short, ugly, he could only be the future Household Head.

Therefore, Gao Gonglu often kept him by his side and taught him.

But unexpectedly, he saw someone else who caught his eye today.

Regardless of talent, the ruthlessness and determination in his eyes alone are strikingly similar to those of the Gao Household.

"It's a pleasant surprise."

Gao Gonglu didn't look at him any longer and ended the sacrificial ceremony.

He hurriedly went up the mountain to see Gao Gongjin.

Gao Gongjin had changed into a Pleated Robe. Beside him stood a large, dark blue bow, its entire body gleaming with Treasure Light, clearly no ordinary object.

Upon seeing this, Gao Gonglu couldn't help but ask, "You've brought out the [Inch Silk]?"

Gao Gongjin nodded and said, "The Ming Beast are attacking Huaishuo, and the Yuchi Household and Mu Household families are eyeing us covetously. My family cannot afford to lose too many men, and the younger generation in my Ning Household is a mixed bag. This time, I must go."

Gao Gonglu shook his head and said, "No, don't you know what awaits you there?"

"It's not Ming Beast."

"You are still some time away from becoming one of the Four Aspects. Once you become one of them and bear the karmic burden, with the protection of the Wisdom King, no one will be able to kill you easily. But not now. I will not allow you to go."

"But we've been working so hard to protect the Gao Household, and now that the Gao Household is on the verge of collapse, what use is it for me to hide?"

Gao Gongjin looked at Gao Gonglu and continued, "I may not die. The Gao Household needs an unprecedented victory to frighten the surrounding wolves and tigers."

Seeing that Gao Gonglu remained unmoved, Gao Gongjin said in a deep voice, "But elder brother, you have even given away your eldest son."

"Go, I won't go, he'll definitely die."

Gao Gonglu listened to his words without wavering in the slightest. His expression remained calm, and his tone was chilling. "When Chun'er left, he had already written his will. I haven't read it yet. Don't talk about him. Even if the entire Gao is wiped out, even if I die, as long as you are still alive, the Gao is not dead. You cannot go this time."

While the two brothers were at odds.

Gao Changling, however, was pondering how to stand before the two heads of the Gao Household and make them believe his words.