Elder Mu curled his lips in disdain, recalling the day Gu Qinglin humiliated Gu Qingli in public, even conspiring with Li Ke'er. With such poor judgment, no matter how powerful she might be, she could hardly be entrusted with the future of the Gu clan.
"Third Young Master, I must respectfully disagree. Though Fifth Miss is indeed a Nine-Star Spirit Adept, the Sixth Miss is a Five-Star Martial Warrior! Even if the Fifth Miss fights alongside her magical beast, she may still not be Qingli's match."
"But Qinglin still stands a fair chance against Li Ke'er of the Li family! At least Qinglin has always been loyal to the Gu clan and eager to contribute. Gu Qingli, on the other hand, has kept her strength hidden for so long—how could her heart truly lie with this family?"
Elder Mu's eyes flickered as he spoke. "Li Ke'er has been at the Nine-Star level for quite some time, and we know nothing of her contracted beast. Qinglin's beast is impressive, yes—but are we so sure Li Ke'er's is ordinary?"
Elder Shui frowned and added,
"Sikong Ran and the eighteen-year-old heir of the Sun family are bound to seize the top two spots. Their strength far surpasses Qinglin's. If Li Ke'er or one of them suddenly advances, Qinglin won't stand a chance of placing in the top three. Should the Gu clan fail to make the top three this time, our standing as the foremost of the eight great houses will no longer be tenable. But if Qingli were to compete, we might even hope for first place."
Though Elder Shui spoke with calm objectivity, his words made Gu Ming flush with shame.
"That wretched girl simply refuses to participate!" Gu Ming snapped angrily.
Gu Yifeng lifted his eyes and cast a cold glance at Gu Ming.
"This is not for you to question. Stand down."
Gu Ming's heart burned with fury. He had always believed Qinglin to be the strongest of her generation—how could he have foreseen the rise of Gu Qingli?
"Ah… I mistook glass for jade."
Gu Yifeng closed his eyes in remorse. Now that he considered the true nature of Dongfang Kunlun, how could such a figure casually accept a disciple?
He had once dismissed it as mere chance. What blindness.
"Patriarch, don't blame yourself. At the time, the testing artifact was far too valuable," Elder Mu sighed.
In recent years, talents had grown scarce in the Gu family. If this continued, their position among the elite houses would become ever more precarious. No one could fault the patriarch for his earlier choices—for in the end, all was done for the clan's sake.
"Had we known her true potential and nurtured her early on, she might already have reached the Royal Stage. Among the younger generation, who would dare challenge her? The Gu family would be flourishing once more."
Gu Yifeng was steeped in regret. He wished nothing more than to turn back time for the sake of the family's future.
Elder Mu and Elder Shui exchanged a glance.
"Patriarch, let us not give up. Qingli is a filial child—surely she understands the weight of her choices."
At that moment, a guard hurried in and reported,
"Patriarch, Young Master Qingche has arrived with Miss Qingli."
Gu Yifeng froze in surprise, while joy lit up the faces of both Elder Mu and Elder Shui.
"Invite them in—at once!"
It had been seven long years since Gu Qingli last set foot in this courtyard. Time had flown, and the circumstances—and her heart—had utterly changed.
Gu Yifeng rose from his seat, eyes alight with emotion as he looked at Gu Qingli. She, however, remained calm and composed, studying her grandfather—the patriarch of the Gu clan—with quiet scrutiny.
He was indeed the same stern elder from her memories, though the years had worn him down; his features now bore the marks of fatigue and age.
"Miss Qingli, does this mean you've agreed to represent the Gu family in the youth tournament?" Elder Mu asked, barely concealing his excitement.
A faint smirk tugged at Gu Qingli's lips, her gaze cold as she replied,
"I can participate—but only on one condition."
Gu Yifeng beamed.
"If you're willing to take part, any condition will be granted!"
"You'd best hear the condition first, Patriarch," Gu Qingli replied, her eyes like frost, locking onto his without the slightest trace of warmth.