"Do not think that just because you have some skills, you can truly soar to the heavens. Let me tell you, with your abilities, you are not worthy of joining my Gu family. Now, get out immediately. As long as I, Gu Ping, am here, you will never be able to join the Gu family in this lifetime."
Gu Ping said coldly, his words full of sarcasm towards Ye Fan.
Ye Fan clenched his fists tightly. If he hadn't been seriously injured, knowing Ye Fan's temper, he would have already rushed forward to teach this scoundrel a lesson.
But just then, an aged voice echoed from the doorway.
"Young Master Gu Er, what an arrogant tone."
The voice was ancient yet resonant like a great bell, causing everyone present to turn their heads.
"Old Master Gu?"
Upon seeing the newcomer, Ye Fan was stunned. He never expected that this person would be Old Master Gu.
The members of the Gu family widened their eyes upon seeing Old Master Gu, especially Gu Ping, whose body trembled.
"Big Brother, I never thought I would see you again in my lifetime."
The Grand Enshrined Elder walked forward a few steps and, with a thud, knelt before Old Master Gu, his face filled with excitement, tears flowing uncontrollably.
Big Brother?
This time, Ye Fan and the others were even more shocked. Who could have imagined that Old Master Gu, who had been subservient to the Feng family, possessed such a noble status, being the elder brother of the Gu family's Grand Enshrined Elder.
This news truly shocked everyone.
Seeing the Grand Enshrined Elder kneel, his three disciples also stepped forward and knelt before Old Master Gu.
"Master Uncle."
The three bowed respectfully as juniors, their attitudes extremely deferential.
Only Gu Ping stood there, frozen, his face ashen.
Old Master Gu paid no attention to the Grand Enshrined Elder and his group but, with his hands behind his back, slowly walked towards Gu Ping.
"What? Does Young Master Er not wish to see me? Or do you no longer acknowledge me as a member of the Gu family?"
Hearing Old Master Gu's words, Gu Ping quickly forced a smile, "Master, how could your disciple dare to disown you? I, Gu Ping, pay respects to Master."
As he spoke, Gu Ping respectfully knelt down.
This time, Ye Fan and the others were even more astonished. They never expected Old Master Gu to be Gu Ping's master.
Then, Old Master Gu let out a cold snort, "I cannot accept this 'Master.' Our master-disciple relationship has long since ended. Today, I am here to give Ye Fan something."
Saying that, Old Master Gu took out a box from his pocket and handed it to Ye Fan.
Ye Fan blinked, looking at Old Master Gu, confused.
"Old Master Gu, this is?"
"Open it and you'll know."
Old Master Gu said indifferently, as if the item held no importance to him.
Hearing Old Master Gu's words, Ye Fan could only oblige.
Upon opening the box, a golden plaque lay quietly within.
The golden plaque also bore the inscription of the character "Gu."
"Ancestral Token, this is the Ancestral Token of our ancestors!"
The moment they saw the golden plaque, the three disciples of the Grand Enshrined Elder exclaimed in unison.
The Grand Enshrined Elder was even more shocked, looking at Old Master Gu in disbelief. He never imagined that his own elder brother would give such an item to Ye Fan.
Gu Ping, on the other hand, wore a dark expression, gritting his teeth tightly.
"This is the Ancestral Token of the Gu family. The Ancestral Token supersedes all else. Even the Family Head must pay respects upon seeing it. Now, with this token, I declare Ye Fan as the sixth enshrined elder of the Gu family. No member of the Gu family is permitted to trouble Ye Fan. Do any of you have objections?"
Old Master Gu announced imperiously, at this moment, he seemed like a supreme monarch, before whom everyone could only bow their heads in submission.
"We dare not."
Including the Grand Enshrined Elder, several members of the Gu family lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
Especially Gu Ping. Although he was filled with unwillingness, he was helpless. In the face of the Ancestral Token, the Family Head Token in his hand was nothing but scrap metal.
Seeing that they remained silent, Old Master Gu let out a cold snort and then took the Family Head Token from Gu Ping's hand.
"Scrap metal, what use is it to keep?"
Saying that, he put the token into his pocket.
"Alright, this Ancestral Token will be given to Ye Fan to return to the Gu family and hand over to Gu Sheng. I am merely a recluse who has grown accustomed to a carefree life. I have no desire to be involved in the Gu family's trivial matters. You all take care of yourselves."
With that, Old Master Gu, with his hands behind his back, slowly walked away.
He came and left lightly, like a transcendent being from another realm.
Watching Old Master Gu depart, the Gu family members finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Ye Fan looked at the Grand Enshrined Elder in shock, "Grand Enshrined Elder, what, what exactly is going on?"
Even Ye Fan was stunned. Old Master Gu, who had always been low-key, almost invisible, actually held such a high position in the Gu family. Who wouldn't be shocked?
The Grand Enshrined Elder smiled wryly, glanced at Gu Ping and the others, and waved his hand, "You all go rest. I have a few words to say to Ye Fan."
Gu Ping, who had been so confident of success, now had a somber expression, his eyes filled with malice.
However, Old Master Gu's sudden appearance had completely disrupted his plans. Now, even if he wanted to stop Ye Fan, it was impossible.
Once the Ancestral Token was produced, no one in the Gu family could defy it, even if the old patriarch himself were present, he could not stop Ye Fan.
Ye Fan's sudden elevation to the position of the Gu family's sixth enshrined elder was a meteoric rise, a leap to the heavens.
One had to know that the enshrined elders of the Gu family enjoyed the same status as the direct descendants and the Family Head. Apart from the old patriarch, they were not obliged to obey anyone's commands.
Watching Gu Ping and the others leave with grim expressions, the Grand Enshrined Elder sighed, shaking his head. It seemed his disciples had ultimately sided with Gu Ping.
Though his heart ached, he could do nothing. Everyone had their own aspirations, and he could not interfere.
"Brother Ye, let's find a quiet place."
The Grand Enshrined Elder put away his gloomy thoughts and said to Ye Fan with a smile.
Ye Fan nodded, and the First Elder had already arrived. "I have already instructed someone to prepare food. We can chat while we eat."
The few of them left together and headed towards the Wang family's reception hall.
"Grand Enshrined Elder, what exactly is going on?"
After several rounds of drinks, Ye Fan asked, setting down his wine cup.
The Grand Enshrined Elder smiled a helpless, wry smile and poured himself another drink.
Then, he sighed and spoke in a low voice, "Alas, this is a past event of our Gu family that outsiders do not know."
Ye Fan and the First Elder remained silent, listening quietly as the Grand Enshrined Elder reminisced.
The First Elder and the Grand Enshrined Elder were like brothers, and Ye Fan had also become the Gu family's sixth enshrined elder. Therefore, there were no outsiders present.
"When the Gu family patriarch rose to power, he encountered an assassination attempt. At that time, my elder brother and I had grown up with the patriarch since childhood and had a very close relationship. To protect the patriarch, my elder brother stepped forward and was seriously injured. From then on, the patriarch treated my elder brother as a savior. In fact, all matters of the Gu family would be discussed with my elder brother. Over time, my elder brother became a special existence within the Gu family, holding the position of Grand Enshrined Elder, but his status was on par with, and even higher than, that of the Gu family's patriarch."