The elders considered those words. Most of them were too old to think about becoming Immortals themselves, but did hope that perhaps their children could gain that opportunity.
"Lord Fang Yuan, do aptitude-raising gu worms truly exist?" another one of them asked. The greatest challenge to raising Gu Immortal seeds was aptitude - nothing below A-grade would possibly fly. There were many geniuses who had excellent temperament and discipline, but were suppressed because they had been dealt a bad hand by fate.
"They do, however they are rare," Fang Yuan said. "So rare that even in the Immortal realm they are hard to come by." He didn't bother mentioning what Ambition Gu was as he didn't plan to give them any.
"I see..." many of them said as the gears in their heads began turning.
Fang Yuan then nodded, a sign that he was done talking.
They immediately began with their toadying.
"Lord Fang Yuan, thank you for enlightening us!"
"Indeed, listening to Lord Fang Yuan speak has been the highlight of this year - no, of this decade!"
"Ah, I feel like I have gained more than a century's worth of enlightenment simply by hearing Lord Fang Yuan's words!"
That last bit wasn't even that hyperbolic when it came to flattery. Even if they had lived for a hundred years, unless they stumbled upon an Immortal inheritance they could not have learned what Fang Yuan had told them.
"Now, regarding matters of the clan..." Fang Yuan said, inviting them to open up.
There were a few minor things, most of which were glossed over, until Fang Zheng got to the meat of the matter. "The surrounding clans are looking at us enviously, brother. The Bei Clan have been looking for ways to undermine us for a while. That, and the Xiu, He, and Ye clans are also conspiring against us."
"No doubt that they're envious of the fact that we have gained the Flesh Bone Lord's inheritance!" someone piped up.
"They probably also think that we don't deserve to live here, being recent people who moved here..."
"They won't do anything with Lord Fang Yuan around, however, what about when he leaves?"
"It would be so wonderful if we didn't have to deal with them..."
There was silence in the room. The elders wanted to say something, but none of them wanted to be the first one to say it.
The silence stretched awkwardly until finally, an elder who thought he was so old that he might as well take one for the team were that necessary spoke up.
"Lord Fang Yuan... with your powers, is it possible for us to defeat and conquer the surrounding clans?"
"Conquer them?" Fang Yuan asked.
"Yes - if we were to get rid of them, our clan could truly flourish without having to worry..."
"If the situation was reversed, they would not hesitate to do the same to us!"
"It would also send a message to the Bai and the Xiong Clan members in our clan that we are not to be trifled with!"
Such whispers could only be communicated in a closed environment like this. They were all righteous path Gu Masters after all, but these words communicated their innermost feelings.
Dealing with the other clans was a massive headache - would it not be better to simply get rid of them?
As for justification, it would not be hard to find justification in one way or another. If needed to, they could manufacture it - much like how Fang Yuan had manufactured part of the Flesh Bone Lord's journal to show that their ancestors had once lived on Bei Gu Mountain before they came here.
In this world, strength was everything!
None of the elders would dare say such things openly, but they had all reached this understanding of events independently of one another.
After all, weren't the other clans trying to frame them as being Blood Path cultivators? It was not necessarily a true accusation, but it was true that they had been related to a Blood Path cultivator - the first gen Gu Yue. Many of them wished to sever all such connection with this person who would slaughter his own clansmen simply for cultivation benefits. Compared to him it was far preferable for their clan to be associated with someone like Fang Yuan instead.
But they could not do so easily when their ancestor was the founder of their village and his legacy had been carried for a thousand years. Most of the younger members were aware of the kind of monster that first gen Gu Yue was like and so denounced him - but many did not. And to those who did not, they could not openly announce what he was like without further risking first gen Gu Yue's use of Blood Path methods leaking out.
Even if they denounced him, this was more than enough for some other forces to attack them.
Some of them saw attacking the other clans as self-defense in this regard, as it would stop a preemptive strike on their own clan.
If they were thinking such thoughts, it meant that the other clans would've also thought the same thing in their stead (or so many of the elders thought). So that meant that the other clans would've also slaughtered them if given the chance. Given such, what was the need to feel guilty about striking them first?
Fang Yuan listened to all of their complaints before he raised his hand.
Silence fell like a hammer in the pavilion at this gesture as Fang Yuan took a deep breath.
"Fellow clansmen, I have listened to your complaints. I have heard of your plan to attack our surrounding clans. And I will not lie - I am a bit disappointed," Fang Yuan said. "What has happened to our noble Gu Yue Clan? You all speak of such violence against our beloved neighbors when we should be friendly with them. Of attacking the Bei Clan, who have been our allies ever since we moved to Bei Gu Mountain. I have always strived to lead the Gu Yue Clan along the path of peace and harmony, and intend to continue to do so. How could you allow yourselves to be lead astray from the path of righteousness and consider attacking innocents? We, as the Gu Yue Clan, should become a shining example of the righteous path."
There was silence as many of the elders began to feel a deep sense of shame at Fang Yuan's words.
In that moment, Fang Yuan's image seemed to become even more grand and resplendent than before. His eyes shone with a light found only in the stories of chivalric heroes. His. entire body exuded an aura of calmness and kindness. It was as if Fang Yuan's very being was at harmony with heaven and earth itself - he was a person who was a friend to all living beings, one who would not even deign to harm a fly.
They had asked such a person to commit evil acts on their behalf?
Sweat began pouring over their foreheads as they realized the gravity of their mistakes.
Many of them began apologizing immediately.
"Forgive me, Lord Fang Yuan, we have committed grievous sins!"
"Indeed, we are unworthy to be in the presence of someone as noble as yourself!"
"Ah, I don't know what kind of demons possessed me to even make that kind of suggestion!"
"Lift your heads. It happen sometimes that we stray from the path - but so long as we find it once more, we should be thankful," Fang Yuan said. "Regarding these rumors - I am somewhat concerned as well. As you all know, Blood Path cultivators are the lowest of the low. Scum even amongst demonic cultivators. I have already killed one of them who threatened our clan. Were I to see another Blood Path cultivator, I would strike them dead immediately. So let us put an end to such rumors. I propose that we invite the other clans to a feast."
There were murmurs of surprise.
"A feast, Lord Fang Yuan?"
"Yes, a feast," Fang Yuan said. "Let us invite them to dine and drink with us for five days and five nights. And I mean all of them - the Xiu, He, and Ye Clans as well as the Bei Clan. During these festivities, we can convince them of our righteousness and our intentions. We can smooth over any issues that might persist among all of us. This will help bring us all together and we can all live in harmony thereafter. All of us will benefit from mutual cooperation."