Chapter 1212: Chapter 716 Life Chart After the family banquet ended, the guests dispersed. Despite some twists and turns, everything ended peacefully, and one could barely say that "both guests and hosts enjoyed themselves." Late at night, in the study of the Gu Family Master. Shang Che and Gu Shouyan sat opposite each other sipping tea, engaging in candlelit conversations deep into the night. The two grew up together, cultivated together, and aside from being family heads, they were also old friends. Although the Shangguan Family was stronger than the Gu Family, the gap was not too significant. Gu Shouyan was slightly older than Shang Che. Both had lived for hundreds of years, weathered many storms, their relationship a mix of calculated interests and genuine affection. Gu Shouyan was straightforward and always spoke his mind bluntly, he said in a deep voice: "You intend to take all the Shangguan Family’s business back?" These businesses were located near the Qianxue State boundary, in various Tao Cultivation industries, originally managed by the Gu Family. Shang Che nodded, "The Shen Family offered a high price. I transferred it to them, which earns our Shangguan Family twenty percent more profit than if we ran it ourselves." Gu Shouyan sneered, "The Shen Family is that benevolent?" Shang Che said, "Whether they are benevolent or not, the profit is clear." "What profit?" Shang Che shook his head, "I can’t say." Gu Shouyan scoffed, "What other profits can there be? Just Spirit Stones, Pills, network... oh, and quotas from the Four Great Sects?" Shang Che remained silent. Gu Shouyan busied himself with brewing tea, stirring the leaves in the teapot. Shang Che’s gaze became intense, he sighed, "The Shen Family must have also approached you, and you flatly refused?" Gu Shouyan made an affirming sound. Shang Che said, "This is an overture of goodwill, Mr. Gu. Even if you don’t accept, you should at least leave some room for maneuver..." Gu Shouyan’s face was cold, "Those villains from the Shen Family are not worth dealing with." Shang Che shook his head, "In the world of families, only profit is discussed, not virtues. In action, one must first put aside virtues, otherwise, it’s easy to act rashly and hinder the development of the family." "You don’t talk about virtues, that’s your business, but don’t tell me how to act," Gu Shouyan said, his temper upright. Shang Che tentatively said, "Then the business of the Shangguan Family..." Gu Shouyan waved his hand, "Take it all. It was your Shangguan Family’s daughter-in-law who managed it anyway. If you want it back, just tell her." "Most of our Gu Family cultivators are from the Taoist Court. We are not adept at managing these cultivation industries, which only serve to bolster the household funds. It’s tasteless to eat, yet a pity to waste, and it’s troublesome for Wan’er to put in so much effort for it, not worth it." Shang Che breathed a sigh of relief. Gu Shouyan ignored him, focusing on brewing his tea, watching the vapors rise, clearly unmoved by these gains and losses. The room fell into an oppressive silence for a time. After a long while, Shang Che’s gaze became somber, he sighed: "The Gu Family... will encounter trouble." Gu Shouyan was surprised and raised an eyebrow. He and Shang Che had grown up together, and Gu Shouyan knew exactly what kind of person Shang Che was. This man was self-centered, exquisite, and egotistical. However, when his own interests or those of the Shangguan Family were not involved, he could be very sincere and candid in his dealings. Despite disliking Shang Che for his cunning and calculating ways, Gu Shouyan still had a not-so-shallow camaraderie with him over the years. After all, at their level of cultivation and status, there were not many cultivators left with whom he could speak a few words and share a few thoughts. Gu Shouyan asked, "Who’s troubling my Gu Family? The Shen Family?" Shang Che still shook his head, "What I’ve mentioned, you know. What you don’t know, I cannot say." Gu Shouyan was very disappointed, poured himself a cup of tea, and leisurely began to drink. He did not pour any for Shang Che. Shang Che could only serve himself and poured a cup. The tea tasted somewhat bitter and astringent, not of the best quality. But that was the flavor Gu Shouyan liked. Shang Che didn’t like it as much, but didn’t complain and silently drank it down, glanced at the white hairs at Gu Shouyan’s temples, and sighed: "Mr. Gu, a great man can bend and stretch..." "So many families above are showcasing goodwill towards the Gu Family. If you gave them a little face, the Gu Family wouldn’t have been stuck at the same rank... still unable to become a Fifth-grade." Gu Shouyan glared, "Give what face? Do they really want me to give face? They want the power of my Gu Family to give them face! They want the Taoist Law to give them face!" "Is the power mine to give away?" "Is the Taoist Law mine to give away?" "The power of the Taoist Court, the equity of the Taoist Law, drawn from both the Heavenly Dao and the common folk, what virtue or capability does my Gu Family have to claim as our own, to seek private gains through power?" Shang Che felt a headache coming on, "Are there some things that others can do but the Gu Family can’t? Is only the Gu Family noble?" "We’re not noble," Gu Shouyan looked defiant, "as I damn well please." Shang Che suddenly lost his temper. Gu Shouyan glanced at Shang Che, realizing that at this moment, his old friend was not overly scheming and was genuinely concerned about him, he sighed: "You’re obsessed with fame and fortune, you understand the world of fame and fortune better than I do, but this matter is not as simple as you think." "Over the years, my Gu Family has produced the Heaven Void Ancestor, and we’ve long had the foundation of a Fifth-grade..." "Among the families, although some despise my Gu Family to the bone, there are also those who have deep ties with us. Our relationships are not overly good, but we’re not isolated and unsupported either." "Even several times, we were one foot into the threshold of becoming a Fifth-grade, but due to various constraints, we couldn’t take that next step." Gu Shouyan said solemnly, "The true Fifth-grade families of the Taoist Court are not to be taken lightly." "My Gu Family adheres to the Taoist Law, too many people do not wish for my Gu Family to advance this step forward." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞 Shang Che’s brows furrowed slightly. "Moreover," Gu Shouyan said with self-mockery, "do you think if I accepted those gestures of goodwill from those families, if I conspired with them, they would accept my Gu Family?"