Back then, Gu Beichi was the second young Gu Family, but in terms of status and identity, he far surpassed Gu Changfeng, the eldest young Gu Changfeng of the Gu Family!
The reason is simple: for powerful families that can dominate Shangjing capital, their business on the surface is not that important; what they pursue is martial arts and cultivation!
In other words, families like the Gu Family family are all backed by martial arts families!
Gu Beichi was a prodigy. At the age of sixteen, he had already reached the Bone-Forge Realm, and at twenty-eight, he reached the Late Bone-Forge Realm, not far from the Grandmaster Realm!
This talent may not be comparable to that of those reclusive sects, but within the entire Gu Family, it is an unprecedented feat!
Therefore, the Gu Family began to allocate resources to Gu Beichi, giving him all the benefits so he could focus on cultivation. The Gu Family's method of cultivating an heir was simple: one would handle external affairs, and the other would handle internal affairs.
Gu Beichi's exceptional talent, the Gu Family naturally poured all their resources into him, entrusting him with the internal affairs and his pursuit of martial arts prowess. Gu Changfeng, on the other hand, was the nominal heir to the family business.
The Gu Family also has great ambitions. As long as Gu Beichi develops smoothly and becomes Grandmaster Realm or even a higher realm in the future, it is not impossible for the Gu Family to become one of the Five Great Families, or even a new martial arts sect.
Everything was fine until six years ago, when Gu Chen was fourteen years old, when things changed!
Gu Beichi is thirty-six years old and is beginning his attempt to break through to the Grandmaster Realm!
After three months of seclusion, the Gu Family was met not with good news, but with devastating news upon their return!
He's gone mad!
In these three months, Gu Beichi not only failed to break through to the Grandmaster Realm, but also suffered a severe drop in cultivation due to a qi deviation during his breakthrough! He was even below the Bone-Forge Realm!
It's important to understand that the Gu Family has poured all their resources into Gu Beichi. Almost everyone is eagerly anticipating Gu Beichi breaking through his limitations and reaching the Grandmaster Realm!
But everything changed too quickly. Gu Beichi not only failed, but his cultivation level also plummeted. The Gu Family's ambitions suddenly became a laughing stock among the major families. Even more ridiculously, Gu Beichi carried the hopes of his family. Because he was unwilling to accept defeat, he ignored advice and only recuperated for a year before starting to cultivate frantically again. As a result, his meridians exploded, and he eventually became a cripple!
From that moment on, Gu Beichi disappointed his family. Under Gu Changfeng's deliberate instigation, this once-proud son of heaven suddenly fell to the bottom.
Later, Gu Changfeng, under the pretext that the family does not support idlers, deprived Gu Beichi of the martial arts cultivation resources Gu Family had been using, claiming that they were given to the Gu Clan members who needed them more.
Without his cultivation and resources, it was incredibly difficult for Gu Beichi to turn things around. That period was his darkest time, and he lived like a walking corpse within the Gu Family. Finally, half a year ago, Gu Beichi offended the eldest son of the Gongsun Family, one of the Five Great Families in the Shangjing, and was impeached and expelled from the family by Gu Changfeng and the elders!
Even if Gu Chen's grandfather wanted to stop it, it was impossible!
After leaving, Gu Beichi had no choice but to pull himself together for Gu Chen's sake and came to Zhou City, intending to live a simple life. But unexpectedly, the Zhou Family got wind of it and came to arrange a marriage, which rekindled hope in Gu Beichi's heart.
Even without martial arts skills, paving a good path for his son to become an upper-class person in the secular world was his last act of kindness.
But what happened next completely exceeded Gu Beichi's expectations. Because of his smooth sailing in the first half of his life and his status as the second young Gu Family, Gu Beichi was not good at handling many interpersonal relationships. When Gu Changfeng deliberately spread the word, the wealthy families of Zhou City learned that Gu Beichi and his son had been expelled from the Gu Family, and their lives were once again hit hard.
"If they didn't tell you, then who did?"
Gu Beichi clutched his head, writhing in agony. He seemed unwilling to recall this painful and infuriating past. Feeling the warmth of Gu Chen's palm, his body trembled even more violently.
"Dad, you underestimate your son." Gu Chen shook his head and said, "When you went into seclusion, I was fourteen years old. By then, I already knew quite a bit. I also knew that you planned to teach me after breaking through to the Revolving Illumination Realm, but unfortunately, you failed. You spent a year immersed in the family's medicinal pool and had no time to care about me."
"It's my fault!" Gu Beichi said, "Fourteen years old is the best time to practice martial arts. I chose to go into seclusion at that time to reach the Revolving Illumination Realm. With a higher level of understanding and a broader perspective, I could better teach you. But unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Everything I had achieved was in vain at that moment!"
"Dad, I told you, I can repair your meridians!"
Gu Chen said in a deep voice, "After your failure, you forced yourself to cultivate, and it's been five years since your meridians exploded. That's not a long time; you should still have time."
Gu Beichi shook his head, burying his face in his hands, and said, "Chen'er, I know you mean well, but you don't need to comfort me. I've gotten used to it all these years! My only hope now is that you're safe and sound. I won't think about anything else. I'm used to being a cripple."
Seeing the bitter smile on Gu Beichi's face, Gu Chen felt a pang of pain in his heart.
After experiencing such setbacks, the once proud and arrogant father has become so listless and dejected. What a harsh word! But Gu Beichi has accepted it calmly over the past few years!
However, while he could accept it, Gu Chen could not!
Since his rebirth, he had always wanted to solve this problem for his father, but he lacked the strength to do so, so he never dared to bring it up! But now it's different; he has the ability and is determined to help his father regain his former glory!
I wish to seize six dragons, and turn my chariot to hang over Japan!
This is how my father looked back in his prime!
"Dad, you know I've been through a lot lately. You believe in your son; I have the ability to help you recover!" Gu Chen said in a deep voice, "Weren't you curious about where I've been these past few days? I met a senior practitioner who can help treat your meridians!"
"Senior?" Gu Beichi's spirits lifted, and he raised his head, a sharp glint in his eyes.
But that glint of light vanished quickly, and Gu Beichi's eyes dimmed again. He gave a bitter smile and said, "Don't lie to me. Back then, your grandfather and the family elders searched all the famous doctors in the Shangjing, and they all said my meridians were beyond saving. Even some seniors from martial arts sects examined me, but they were all helpless. It's even less likely that you could do anything in Zhou City..."
They can't, but I can!
Gu Chen roared inwardly, then, before Gu Beichi could finish speaking, he said in a low voice, "Senior, please come in for a chat!"
As Gu Chen finished speaking, Zhao Bo slowly approached and appeared at the doorway.