Gu Changhuan had access to such accounts through his clan. The rogue cultivators did not. They listened intently, some even taking out jade slips.

Though they did not lack such insights, Gu Changhuan and his peers did not grow careless, listening closely as Yu Ruyi explained his experiences.

After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Yu Ruyi concluded his exposition.

"Fellow Daoists, there is one more matter today for which I ask you all to bear witness."

Yu Ruyi stood up after speaking and looked toward the members of the Fang Clan.

Gu Changhuan had a suspicion. Was he about to propose in front of everyone?

"Senior Fang, I met Miss Fang Xin'ai at Cloudheaven Market and fell in love at first sight. I ask for her hand as my wife, and I promise never to take a concubine. Will you give us your blessing?"

A Foundation Establishment cultivator asking to marry a Qi Condensation junior as his principal wife?

The entire hall was shocked!

Gu Changhuan filtered out the excess noise.

Love at first sight and chance encounters were obvious pleasantries. What mattered was that this promising Foundation Establishment expert from the Yu Clan was actively seeking to wed a young woman from the Fang Clan.

Upon hearing Yu Ruyi's intention to propose, Yu Daoyan's expression shifted briefly before a smile appeared on her face.

Fang Haotian maintained his smile throughout, though a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Gu Changhuan caught every nuance of their expressions and pondered silently:

Had Yu Ruyi kept this from the Yu clan leader, Yu Daoyan?

Nor given advance word to the Fang Clan?

If so, this was going to be interesting.

Upon hearing Yu Ruyi's declaration, Gu Shiyou's complexion turned sour. Yet he knew he had no standing or reason to object, so he simply downed a mouthful of wine in silence.

Poor Shiyou. He had barely developed a crush before it was over.

Seated behind Fang Haotian, Fang Xin'ai put on a look of surprise before her cheeks flushed red and she lowered her head, portraying the very image of a shy young maiden.

"She is my junior, but I must ask what she wants," Fang Haotian said. "Xin'ai, you heard his proposal. Will you marry Fellow Daoist Yu and become his cultivation partner?"

Fang Haotian asked the question knowing full well that if Fang Xin'ai could bond with a Foundation Establishment expert from the Yu Clan, it would benefit both her and the Fang Clan.

Fang Haotian considered the situation in an instant:

Fang Xin'ai was merely at Middle Qi Condensation, possessing no extraordinary talent beyond her striking beauty. The Fang Clan lost nothing by marrying her off, and doing so might yield far greater strategic benefits.

By publicly asking for her hand as his wife and promising never to take a concubine, Yu Ruyi had paid the Fang Clan a considerable honor.

The story of how they met was likely far more complex than claimed, but in the face of tangible benefit, Fang Haotian was content to turn a blind eye to minor details.

Seeing that Fang Haotian harbored no objection, Yu Daoyan felt a mixture of delight and misgiving.

Regardless of her private thoughts, she could not publicly gainsay Yu Ruyi on such an occasion.

"I leave everything to Grandfather's judgment," Fang Xin'ai said shyly, her face flushed red.

"In that case, on behalf of her parents, I accept this marriage," Fang Haotian declared with a hearty laugh.

"Thank you, Senior Fang." Yu Ruyi cupped his hands in a bow.

Yu Daoyan also voiced her agreement: "Since Fellow Daoist Fang has agreed, our Yu Clan shall select an auspicious date and send envoys to Jade Splendor Mountain to settle the details."

The Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Zhang Clan finally spoke up: "Then let us offer our early congratulations to Fellow Daoist Yu and young Fellow Daoist Fang!"

Gu Wanhao offered a smile as well: "This is a grand occasion for our Nine Perches Mountains. On the day of the wedding, our Gu Clan will certainly attend to join the celebration."

Fang Xin'ai kept her head lowered, a gleam of triumph flitting across her eyes.

Her parents were ordinary mortals, leaving her without influential relatives to lean on within the clan.

With her unremarkable aptitude, she could expect to marry a man who would join the Fang household and help continue its line.

But Fang Xin'ai wanted more. She too hoped for a long life, yet her aptitude and standing made a Foundation Establishment Pill difficult to obtain within the Fang Clan.

Fortunately, she possessed a beautiful face.

And so, she turned her sights outward.

After evaluating the promising young talents among the other three clans, she targeted Yu Ruyi.

He was suspected to possess Dual Spirit Roots and had reached Late Qi Condensation at a young age.

His parents were also mortals, meaning his foundation within the Yu Clan was shallow. He was handsome, somewhat naïve in worldly affairs, yet fueled by ambition.

If she could leverage her status to assist him, he would hardly refuse her.

Through her calculated advances, the two had made each other's acquaintance.

Now, half her scheme was already fulfilled.

As Yu Ruyi responded to the crowd's congratulations, he felt genuine satisfaction.

His proposal to marry Fang Xin'ai was certainly not just because of her beauty.

Yu Ruyi wanted to lead the Yu Clan, but had little support of his own. Yu Daoyan had held the position for years and was firmly established. He needed allies outside the clan.

He had chosen Fang Xin'ai because he did not want a wife from another clan whose high standing would leave him beholden to her family.

Fang Xin'ai was alluring and sharp-witted.

Being a member of the Fang Clan, marrying her ensured the Fang Clan would not oppose his rise and might even lend him aid. Furthermore, she lacked a powerful patron within her own clan, and her future Foundation Establishment would depend entirely on him. Once married, she would align completely with his interests, making her an ideal choice for him.

Yu Daoyan had reached the limit of her modest aptitude at Foundation Establishment. She wanted to keep her position as clan leader.

Yu Ruyi's public proposal was very likely a move toward taking power. Yet the marriage would benefit the clan, and as its leader, Yu Daoyan could not oppose it.

When the celebration concluded and the cultivators dispersed, the Gu Clan delegation returned to Emerald Maple Mountain.

Gu Wanhao reported the events of the banquet to Gu Wanchang.

"A marriage alliance between two clans is always negotiated in advance before any news is released. The Yu boy pulling such a move is seeking external support to seize power!

"He is far too hasty. He has focused solely on cultivation until now; although his talent is exceptional, he has never handled clan affairs. Had he wished to become Patriarch, spending a few years gathering experience would not have been difficult. Revealing his ambitions so rashly now only breeds suspicion.

"And though the Yu clan leader is a woman, she is no fool. The clan has prospered steadily under her. Yu Ruyi may find his plans harder to carry out than he expects," Gu Wanchang said.

"He sees only the authority and glory of a Patriarch, but not the weight a Patriarch must bear. He is still too young after all," Gu Wanhao sighed.

A clan leader had to consider everyone's interests and manage most of its affairs. Here at the edge of Qingzhou, that meant constant worry: one mistake could cost them dearly. Gu Wanchang had been so occupied since taking the position that he scarcely had time to meditate.

Gu Wanchang had been Patriarch for over fifty years. He was at Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer when he took over, and now he was only at Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer.

Had it not been for this, Gu Wanchang might already be at Foundation Establishment Eighth or Ninth Layer by now.

"Or perhaps we are overthinking it," Gu Wanchang said indifferently. At this point, the one who should have a headache was Yu Daoyan; there was no point in them dwelling on it so much.

On the other side, Gu Changhuan received a Communication Talisman detailing Gu Cai'er's background.

It stated that Gu Cai'er was an orphan, adopted by a farming household in a Gu Clan village as a child. Later, due to her pleasing appearance and cleverness, she was selected to serve on Emerald Maple Mountain.

However, her adoptive parents had both lost their lives to Demon Beasts during the previous minor beast tide. Only an elder sister who had married into another family and two elder brothers remained.

Then who were the elderly parents Cai'er claimed she had to support?