Chapter 97: The Ancestor

Beyond the Gu Family's Divine Island, that vast star region has become extraordinarily bustling at this moment.

Elegant flying vessels forged from divine gold and surrounded by immortal light traverse the void, arriving and docking at the star port surrounding the Divine Island.

Those stepping down from the vessels.

None of them are anything less than well‑known dignitaries of the Ancient Celestial Realm.

There are sect leaders who head great sects, supreme elders who inherit an immortal Dao lineage spanning several epochs, and even some half‑immortal old monsters who usually appear only as a fleeting glimpse of a divine dragon and have lived for an unknown number of years.

At this moment, they all restrain their usual pride and authority, their faces bearing humble and respectful smiles.

Holding meticulously prepared congratulatory gifts in their hands, they line up, awaiting permission to enter the Divine Island.

"Sss… As expected of the Everlasting Gu Family, this spectacle is truly terrifying, isn't it?"

"Look over there, isn't that the Sovereign of the Heavenly Jade Sacred Land? He actually came in person?"

"It's not just the Heavenly Jade Sacred Land; the Purple Palace Immortal Sect, the Taiyi Imperial Dynasty… all the notable forces of the Celestial Realm seem to have gathered today."

"Obviously, what is the Gu Family's status now? A clan of double true immortals, three heavenly emperors! Who would dare not come? Who would dare not bring lavish gifts?"

Among the crowd, murmurs of hushed discussion and astonishment arise.

They gaze at those dignitaries they usually can only look up to.

Now, like elementary schoolchildren, they obediently queue, their hearts filled with awe and only reverence for the Gu Family's overwhelming power.

At that moment, from the far edge of the starry sky, a faint immortal light drifts in.

A massive seven‑colored auspicious cloud, bearing a splendid Immortal Palace, slowly sails forward.

Before the palace, countless fairies clad in colorful robes flutter in the air, scattering a rain of blossoms.

"It's someone from the Ji Family!"

"Heavens! That's the carriage of the Wan You True Immortal, the Seven‑Treasure Glazed Palace!"

A burst of exclamations erupts from the crowd.

Everyone's gaze is drawn to that magnificent Immortal Palace.

The palace's doors slowly open, and a stunningly elegant palace‑clad woman, surrounded by several elders, steps out.

She holds a treasure box carved from celestial jade, her face bearing a gentle smile, and bows gracefully before the Gu Family elder in charge of reception.

"Ji Family, we specially present three thousand jins of Nine‑Heaven Immortal Essence and ten thousand Immortal Divine Lotus, congratulating the Gu Family patriarch on attaining true immortal status and the matriarch on becoming a heavenly emperor!"

The palace‑clad woman's voice rings clearly across the entire star port.

"Sss—"

Upon hearing the contents of the gifts, everyone present involuntarily draws a sharp breath of cold air.

Nine‑Heaven Immortal Essence!

Immortal Divine Lotus!

These are legendary supreme divine artifacts, coveted even by the half‑immortal realms!

Ji Family, to think they could produce so much at once?

This is no longer a congratulatory gift; it's practically… tribute!

The Gu Family elder handling reception, clearly not expecting such a heavy gift from the Ji Family, was momentarily stunned before quickly regaining composure and courteously ushering the palace‑clad party onto the Divine Island.

Ji Family's move also completely steadied all the forces still queuing behind.

They glance at the congratulatory gifts they have prepared, and instantly feel… somewhat embarrassed to present them.

"Quick! Send a message back to the sect, have the sect master bring our prized Ten‑Thousand‑Year Dragon Blood Ginseng as well!"

"And also us, go fetch that piece of Stellar Immortal Gold from the treasury!"

In an instant, the entire star port erupts into chaos.

All factions frantically increase their offerings, fearing their gifts will appear too meager before the Gu Family and be remembered.

After all, a well‑given gift may not be remembered, but a poorly given one… the Gu Family certainly won't forget.

And just then.

From another stretch of the starry sky, an overwhelmingly domineering aura arrives.

A magnificent war chariot forged from gold, drawn by nine pure‑blood golden dragons, crushes the void and thunders forward.

"It's the Pantheon!"

"The Primordial Divine Lord has also sent representatives!"

Everyone's attention is drawn again.

Upon the chariot, the Pantheon's Grand Elder personally holds a golden box as he steps down.

He approaches the Gu Family elder, says nothing, and drops to one knee!

"Pantheon, we present a portion of Chaotic Divine Source and one hundred thousand jins of solar true gold, congratulating the Gu Family on double blessings arriving!"

"Furthermore, as decreed by our Pantheon's sovereign, from now on the Ancient Celestial Realm shall revere the Everlasting Gu Family! The Pantheon vows to forever be the Gu Family's vassal, obeying any command!"

Boom!!!

The Grand Elder's words explode in everyone's minds like a heavyweight bomb!

Vassal!

"The Primordial Divine Lord actually made the Pantheon directly become the Gu Family's vassal?!"

Even the Pantheon, one of the three great powers, chose to submit.

Do those second‑ and third‑tier forces have any other choice?

None.

The Ancient Celestial Realm will no longer have any immortal Dao lineage or supreme great sect.

What remains are only the Everlasting Gu Family and the Gu Family's… vassals.

Watching each representative of the forces scrambling to declare their submission.

The Gu Family's reception elder stood ramrod straight, his face full of pride and joy that came from within.

……

……

The celebration banquet lasted a full seven days and seven nights.

The entire Gu Family Divine Island was immersed in an ocean of rejoicing.

Tributes from all corners of the Immortal Realm piled up like mountains; merely counting these treasures required thousands of stewards, keeping them running off their feet.

And Gu Yuan, as the son and grandson of this True Immortal, and the Gu Family's future heir, naturally became the focus of the entire gathering.

Countless powers' sect leaders and holy lords tried every means to get close to him, to become acquainted and exchange a few words.

Gu Yuan grew weary of the hassle, so he simply slipped back to his own sleeping quarters, finally finding some peace.

Seven days later, the banquet ended and the guests dispersed.

Inside the Gu Family's main council hall.

The Old Ancestor, Gu Lin Tian, Jiang Rou, Gu Yuan, as well as the two newly ascended Heavenly Emperors, Gu Lin Jiang and Gu Xuan Ce, all gathered together.

"Lin Tian, you have now broken through to True Immortal; I can finally rest easy."

The Old Ancestor sat in the chief seat, looking at his son who had grown into a True Immortal, his eyes full of gratification.

"Yes, Father; I will hand over all clan affairs to you."

Gu Lin Tian bowed and replied.

"Lin Jiang, Xuan Ce." The Old Ancestor then turned to the other two Heavenly Emperors.

"Disciple present."

"From now on, you will assist Lin Tian in managing family affairs. Especially the development of those two new continents—you must press ahead, for they are the foundation of our Gu Family's future prosperity; there can be no mistake."

"As you command!" The two replied in unison.

Having given these instructions, the Old Ancestor's gaze finally fell upon Gu Yuan.

His gaze became exceedingly gentle.

"Yuan'er."

"Grandfather, I am here."

"Grandfather…… I am preparing to enter seclusion."

The Old Ancestor's voice carried a hint of emotion.

"This seclusion will last decades at shortest, centuries at longest, all to assault the supreme Immortal King realm."

"With the Primordial Immortal Classic you gave me, and my accumulation over these years, I have ninety percent confidence of success."

"But if I fail, Grandfather…… might never return."

The Old Ancestor's words made the atmosphere in the hall instantly grow heavy.

"What kind of existence is the Immortal King realm?"

Throughout history, countless True Immortal powerhouses have fallen on this path.

Even the Old Ancestor, despite having accumulated a million years of essence, then receiving the nourishment of two great provinces' immortal substances for his body and soul, and finally obtaining the Primordial Immortal Classic gifted by Gu Yuan, dare not claim absolute certainty.

"Grandfather, you will surely succeed."

Gu Yuan looked at the Old Ancestor and spoke earnestly.

"Hahaha, I thank my good grandson for his kind words."

The Old Ancestor burst into laughter, dispelling the heavy atmosphere.

"Grandfather believes in himself, and also believes in you."

He rose, walked up to Gu Yuan, and slipped an ancient bronze token into his hand.

"This is Grandfather's Immortal Order; holding it is as if I were present. Inside it is stored ten of Grandfather's full-power strikes; thereafter, simply place it in a location brimming with energy, and it will automatically accumulate power."

Gu Yuan took the token, feeling a warm smoothness, with an ancient "Gu" character engraved upon it.

He knew this was the Old Ancestor's precaution against not being able to return.

Gu Lin Tian, having just broken through to True Immortal, left this as a contingency.

"Grandfather......"

A warm current surged in Gu Yuan's heart, his eye sockets growing hot.

"Enough, don't make it seem like a parting of life and death."

The Old Ancestor laughed, patting his head, "Your grandfather isn't that easy to kill."

"Wait until Grandfather becomes an Immortal King, then I'll take you to wander the myriad worlds for a proper vacation."

"It's a promise." Gu Yuan nodded firmly.

"Good, it's a promise."

The Old Ancestor finally glanced at his son, daughter-in-law, and the grandson who made him immensely proud.

Then he turned, stepped out, and his figure vanished within the hall.

He was headed to that most ancient forbidden ground to begin the most important seclusion of his life.