C195 Many Patriarchs

Undoubtedly, his prior performance was excessively stellar.

No, "stellar" doesn't quite capture it.

Upon reflection, Chu Yi recognized that his previous display of skill was nothing short of astonishing.

This wasn't among the high-level civilizations!

In those elite societies, Chu Yi's achievements couldn't even be labeled as stellar, because there, young individuals labeled as geniuses or even prodigies in the Gold Realm had the power to vanquish gods!

The prodigy from the Devil Clan he had encountered was merely a genius, not a prodigy.

Yet, this individual possessed the might to slay a War God from a lower civilization while only in the Silver Realm, not even having reached the Perfection of Silver.

Thus, Chu Yi's prior performance would be deemed quite ordinary in the context of high-level civilizations.

After all, Chu Yi was recognized as a prodigy.

But in this lesser civilization, the level of combat prowess Chu Yi had demonstrated was somewhat excessive—

More than excessive, it could be termed as defying the heavens.

Truly, it was defying the heavens.

For someone in the mere Gold Realm to eliminate a top-tier Diamond Level demon was utterly astounding.

And the one who accomplished this was a mere eighteen-year-old youth.

Such a feat would leave anyone in awe, and once the astonishment subsided, questions would arise!

Why are you so exceptional when we are all considered geniuses or even prodigies?

As prodigies of a First Level civilization, we struggle to defeat a Diamond Level Great General, yet you have already managed to slay a top Diamond Level demon.

So, following this wave of shock, it's likely that many will take an interest in Chu Yi.

Chu Yi is formidable now, but he's acutely aware that he hasn't reached the zenith of Earth's power hierarchy.

Even though he has the capacity to slay gods when unleashing his full combat strength, the cost is beyond imagination, and a single misstep could lead to his demise.

Staying under the radar is the best strategy!

But now, he can no longer afford to stay out of the spotlight, and Old Master Chu's emergence has provided Chu Yi with an exit strategy.

Indeed, Chu Yi was never truly worthless. He has always been exceptional!

The information you all previously uncovered was false, deliberately obfuscated by the Chu family.

While there were numerous flaws in the statement, and it was likely that many would find it hard to believe, the Chu family had made their declaration.

The crucial point was that the Chu family was no minor clan. Despite their low profile in Redmarsh City, their power was undeniably among the elite. Moreover, Old Master Chu had recently demonstrated War God Level strength, making them the only family openly boasting a War God. This alone was enough to deter any small-time troublemakers.

As Chu Yi's power continued to grow, so did people's covetous desires for his abilities.

However...

Chu Tianfeng gazed at Chu Yi, understanding something that others did not.

Even during the battle where Chu Yi vanquished a top-tier Diamond Level demon, he hadn't revealed the full extent of his capabilities.

At the very least, Chu Yi's ultimate secret weapon, the Stellar Combat Body, had yet to be unveiled!

Chu Tianfeng had previously experienced the formidable might of the Stellar Combat Body. Once unleashed, Chu Yi's already formidable power would multiply significantly.

In Chu Tianfeng's eyes, Chu Yi now stood shoulder to shoulder with the highest-ranking Diamond Level Great Generals. And if given more time to mature...

Chu Tianfeng was acutely aware that Chu Yi had reached his current level of mastery in just over two months—a fact that would surprise anyone.

Given a few more months or even a year...

By then, even if the Chu family's influence wasn't enough to quell the envy of others, Chu Yi's own strength would be more than sufficient to handle any challenge.

With this in mind, Chu Tianfeng had a clear vision for the future.

"Alright, grandson, no need to stand around looking lost."

"Come, I want to introduce you to some friends..."

With that, Chu Tianfeng turned and walked away.

Chu Yi found it odd, but he wouldn't dare ignore the old master's command. He respectfully followed Chu Tianfeng into an adjacent VIP lounge.

Chu Yi had expected to meet young scions of noble families, but upon entering the lounge, he was taken aback to find it filled with elderly gentlemen.

Indeed, they were all seniors.

Of course, at first glance, many of them appeared quite youthful, but their auras told a different story...

Chu Yi could distinctly perceive that the seemingly middle-aged 'elders' before him were suffused with the unmistakable aura of twilight years.

He surmised that the man must have employed some advanced technology unknown to him to maintain a youthful facade.

Yet, it was just that—a facade.

In truth, their age, or rather their life's journey, was nearing its twilight, devoid of the vitality that marked their prime.

Chu Yi quickly realized that these individuals were likely the patriarchs of their respective families.

In the vast expanse of Redmarsh, numerous families thrived, given its status as the political, cultural, and educational hub of the Adirang Region.

Nonetheless, a significant number of these families were quite ordinary.

To Chu Yi, they were unremarkable, but in more remote cities, they would be esteemed as top-tier families.

These families, if considered in isolation, wouldn't capture Chu Yi's attention—unless they were a preeminent noble house like the Chu family.

Yet, even a family of the Chu family's caliber held little sway in Redmarsh City.

In other words, the Chu family, despite its prestige, wielded scant power in Redmarsh City, and the same was true for the other clans.

The reason was simple: governmental restrictions.

Should these noble houses amass excessive power, it would pose a persistent threat to societal stability.

Chu Yi understood this well. In the ancient times of his previous world, aristocratic families were one of the greatest sources of turmoil.

To those of that era, self-interest trumped all else.

The concept of family, country, and world was epitomized by their actions.

Their own household was their nation!

Indeed, the most influential noble houses could dictate the rise and fall of dynasties with a mere word, and the fate of an emperor could hinge on their whim.

Undoubtedly, these families held sway over the true political and economic levers of power, effectively obstructing the ascent of commoners.

In those times, the imperial examination was non-existent.

The officials and great scholars of the day invariably hailed from these powerful aristocratic families.

For that age, such a period was a blight upon the land.

If the empress hadn't decisively eradicated all the toxic noble families, their influence might have continued to affect future generations profoundly!

Once these families seized control, or even if their power became excessive, it would spell disaster for the common folk.

Hence, the government's approach was entirely justified.

Even as a member of these noble families, Chu Yi could not dispute the validity of this system.

Moreover, Chu Yi was indifferent to the so-called status of these aristocratic households.

While others might place importance on such matters, to Chu Yi, it was insignificant.

After all, for Chu Yi, the pedigree of aristocratic offspring paled in comparison to the power of personal strength!

With sufficient strength, he believed that even the heavens and earth would quake at his presence.

Of course, Chu Yi did have his reservations about some of the government's measures from the standpoint of the aristocracy.

Indeed, the aristocracy in power was problematic, but if they were merely allotted a share of power, the issue wouldn't be as severe.

Yet, the government's crackdown on the noble families was overly harsh, consistently undermining their authority.

Chu Yi was acutely aware that such actions wouldn't root out the problem of the aristocracy completely; rather, they were likely to breed more complications!

Take, for example, the government elites whose power was immense; their progeny would gain access to many opportunities and avenues for advancement unavailable to others.

Over time, these elites' families could very well evolve into a new class of aristocracy!

Some of them might even become ruling aristocratic families.

Thus, only by ensuring mutual oversight between the aristocracy and the government elites can development be balanced.

Regrettably, the government bigwigs seem either oblivious to this issue or are intentionally turning a blind eye. Regardless, their relentless oppression of the noble families shows no signs of abating.

Chu Yi suspects the latter is more probable!

Those who ascend to such ranks of power in the government are unlikely to be so short-sighted.

Power is a seductive force, more challenging to relinquish than the grip of addiction.

Regardless of the region, aristocratic families face severe repression by the local authorities.

Certainly, aside from the three most important cities in the Adirang Region—Redmarsh, Fairmoor, and Grassvale—the other cities were essentially on par with the government in terms of power and influence. It was a close match, yet not an exact equivalence. The government maintained a slight edge, but the noble families and other influential groups often placed their own people in strategic positions, creating a system of mutual oversight and checks and balances. This dynamic was prevalent outside of the three capitals.

Within the three capitals, however, the situation was starkly different. There, the government's authority overwhelmingly dominated the noble families and other powerful entities. To ensure their survival and growth, these families and religious organizations began to forge alliances. Indeed, they formed a coalition, a community comprised of noble families, various religious groups, and smaller factions. While this community was rife with internal strife on ordinary days, they managed to present a united front when addressing significant issues. Without such unity, the noble and powerful families within the three capitals might have been long erased from history.

Chu Yi harbored no particular fondness for the noble families, nor did he hold any resentment towards them. In contrast, he viewed the government quite favorably. After all, without the sacrifices made by government officials, the stable life he knew today would not exist. These were the insights Chu Yi had gleaned.

Confronted with the family patriarchs, Chu Yi felt somewhat bewildered. He hadn't anticipated his grandfather introducing him to these individuals. Was it possible that he was being groomed to take over as Patriarch Chu sooner than expected? If not, what was the purpose of these introductions? This fleeting thought crossed Chu Yi's mind. If Chu Tianfeng were in his twilight years, similar to his contemporaries, then perhaps there was a possibility of succession. But that simply wasn't the case.

Chu Yi could sense the boundless vitality emanating from Chu Tianfeng, a clear indication that he was still in the prime of his life. Not only was Chu Tianfeng considerably younger than his peers, but as a War God, his lifespan was significantly extended. It was conceivable that even centuries from now, Chu Tianfeng would remain as energetic and lively as ever.

Therefore, the possibility he had imagined simply didn't exist.

Chu Yi pushed his doubts to the back of his mind.

He regarded these family heads as elders.

Upon encountering them, Chu Yi offered a slight bow, a gesture of respect.

Indeed, respecting elders and cherishing the young is a traditional virtue. While this world may not have the Huaxia people, it's important to uphold such traditions.

The family heads gazed at Chu Yi with a mix of excitement, affection, and even a touch of covetousness.

Witnessing this, Chu Yi couldn't suppress a shudder.

"Come, grandson, let me introduce you," said Chu Tianfeng, gesturing towards the beaming elder standing before Chu Yi.

"This is the head of the Sun family. You can address him as Grandpa Sun..."