Chapter 8

In the nation of Longhua, for large families like the Hu family with a history spanning over a thousand years, the internal hierarchy is exceptionally strict.

In the Hu family, apart from the High Priest who holds a transcendent position, the most revered is the head of the mainline, the Jiuyou Bloodline, who usually serves as the family patriarch. Of course, the patriarch cannot rule alone; most family matters are managed by the Elders' Council, an extremely complex power institution.

Among them, the heads of the Zebai and Lique lineages are appointed as the Huangquan Grand Elder and the Youming Grand Elder, respectively. Additionally, the Grand Elder of Judgment, appointed by the High Priest, oversees the family guards. These three Grand Elders stand at the pinnacle of the Elders' Council.

Below the Grand Elders are the six Standing Elders, comprising the heads of the three lower lineages, the Transmission Elder, the Punishment Elder, and the Internal Affairs Elder. They usually reside in Ningcheng and are responsible for the daily management and minor decisions of the family.

The remaining ordinary elder positions are filled through nominations from the various branches. Typically, these are held by senior members with high martial prowess or significant contributions to the family. They are ranked from Second Elder to Ninth Elder, totaling eight.

At this moment, in the Crimson Blood Hall, besides the six Standing Elders, the Second Elder, Fifth Elder, and Ninth Elder, who were currently in Ningcheng, also attended, making a total of nine elders present.

When Hu Gao entered with the patriarch, he thought he had walked into a cult altar. The architect responsible for designing this hall had extremely poor taste. The pillars were dark and the lines carved on them looked like ugly scribbles.

The chair at the main seat was unusually large and even covered with animal skins, giving it a rustic feel. The most bizarre thing was that there was a bronze-like object next to each seat, from which a cluster of campfires continuously rose, creating a very eerie atmosphere!

When the patriarch entered, the elders who had been sitting and chatting stood up. Hu Yinxue, who had been sent by the patriarch to notify everyone, had somehow floated to Hu Gao's side and followed behind the patriarch.

"Everyone, please sit down," the patriarch said with a smiling face, walking calmly to the main seat facing the door, then gestured for Hu Gao to stand beside him.

"I have called all of you here today to discuss an important matter. As you all know, during the sacrifice yesterday, the Guardian God was severely injured when he descended and is now in a deep sleep. We do not know when he will wake up. Hu Gao, who stands before you, is a blank body with no memory or power from the upper realm." The patriarch was straightforward, getting straight to the point without any unnecessary words.

"However, according to the High Priest's words, Hu Gao must be the successor, and this is non-negotiable. The purpose of calling you all here is to discuss how we should cultivate the successor to help the Guardian God awaken as soon as possible!"

"Patriarch, I think we should arrange for the Guardian God to be taken to the ancestral land. The elemental energy there is the most abundant, which might help him wake up sooner," the Ninth Elder, the least senior, said first.

The other elders nodded after a brief discussion.

At this moment, the Second Elder stood up and said, "Patriarch, I don't think that's a good idea. As the saying goes, jade unpolished is not a treasure. I believe Hu Gao should go to the front lines to fight!"

Shit, Hu Gao couldn't help but glance at the Second Elder. He had felt something was off about this old guy since the sacrifice. Despite his smooth talk, he probably wanted to get rid of Hu Gao. This kind of person must be carefully guarded against. Additionally, from his words, it was clear that the Hu family was not as united as it seemed.

"I agree with the Second Elder. According to family records, the successor, after receiving the ancestral inheritance, will have three lives. With such a unique advantage, the battlefield is the best place to hone oneself!" Another elder stood up to support him.

Three lives? Hu Gao managed to keep a straight face, suppressing a laugh. It seemed that being reincarnated had its benefits. Having three lives was definitely a game-changer.

"The Second Elder's idea is too simplistic. The current successor has no martial prowess and no memory, which means he lacks even the basic knowledge of cultivation. Even with three lives, it wouldn't be enough. Our Hu family is not so wealthy that we can afford to send a successor to die!" This time, it was the head of the Shaluo branch, who had a close relationship with the Lique branch, speaking in support of Hu Gao.

The other elders began to speak, and it was clear that their positions were determined by their allegiances, and no one could convince the others.

Patriarch Hu Zhen Tian, seeing that the discussion had reached a suitable point, made a gesture to calm them down. "All of you have valid points, but as the head of the Shaluo branch said, Hu Gao's current state is not suitable for the front lines. I suggest he first go to the War Academy to build a foundation."

The elders, who had been arguing, found the patriarch's suggestion reasonable and did not object. Thus, the matter was settled.

"Additionally, due to the successor's special nature, I hope the Transmission Elder can give Hu Gao special training to help him master our family's martial techniques more quickly outside of his studies at the War Academy. I also hope the Internal Affairs Elder can provide the necessary resources for his cultivation. Do the two of you have any objections?" Hu Zhen Tian continued.

The Transmission Elder and the Internal Affairs Elder were both part of Hu Zhen Tian's direct line, so they had no objections. These proposals were smoothly passed by the Elders' Council, as no one dared to challenge the patriarch's authority in the absence of the three Grand Elders.

"Very well, everyone except the Transmission Elder is dismissed." Hu Zhen Tian finished, turning to look at the calm and composed Hu Gao with a smile. He found this guy increasingly mysterious.

He had not revealed the results of his earlier examination of Hu Gao's body because he had discovered a mysterious force within Hu Gao that had completely absorbed the elemental energy he had sent, almost instantaneously. This was truly incredible.

Since he was about to leave for the Qingyuan Mine in a few days, he needed to ensure that the family's affairs were well-arranged before he could leave with peace of mind. Hu Gao was not just a simple amnesiac; he likely already possessed some of the successor's powers without realizing it. Such a treasure must be cultivated properly.

"You should know that I am about to leave for Qingyuan Mountain. During this period, Hu Gao will be in your care. Hu Yinxue, you will be responsible for matters within the War Academy, and the Transmission Elder will be responsible for matters outside the War Academy."

"Yes, Patriarch." The Transmission Elder, Hu Feng, looked a few years older than the patriarch. He came from the Blood Red lineage and was known as a genius from a young age, with remarkable combat skills, which is why he was given the important role of Transmission Elder.

As for Hu Yinxue, she was the patriarch's mouthpiece in the Elders' Council and a member of the Dark Knights outside the council, with a special status. She took orders from both the High Priest and the patriarch, making her the perfect choice to ensure Hu Gao's safety.