Elder Ming came to the estate the next day to pick up Gu Zhi for a important clan meeting.
"The clan heir will attend this meeting, you've already met her at your wedding, it was Gu Bing. Just take, my lead and you'll be fine" elder Ming said.
They used his flying tool to travel a bit of distance in the sect and arrived at a great hall.
"The Gu clan's main base of operations is at the flying wind sect but we have some branches in other sects too. Especially the great earth sect, we have a decent amount of people there" he said.
With Gu Zhi's training, despite his blindness he could still make his way around. using hearing he visualized how the world would look while using his sense of touch to confirm. Sometimes this led to mistakes, but with further time and improvement he doubted people would ever take him for a blind man in a few years.
He made his way off the flying disk with elder Ming in tow as they made their way inside the great hall. It was shaped like a minor colosseum with descending rows of seats to a central platform. Most of the seats were covered in shade as some faint candle light flickered with the only place that had sunlight pouring through was the central platform in the middle.
"You will sit her" elder Ming said as he stopped at the top rows. "The seating is an indication of status. Since you are a foundation establishment cultivator you sit at the top row". he said as he made his way to the bottom most row.
After a while the hall filled up with people until one of them took the center stage.
"Alright the scheduled meeting is in attendance, today we have a few topics to discuss." He took out a list before proceeding. "First off we have a problem of the grading brand blueprints. The great earth sect is being stubborn and not letting others have a slice of the pie. However due to increased pressure from local factions its just a matter of time before they relent but not without taking the lion's share of the market first. Some people have proposed bribery to get the blueprints before released but none of our offers have been accepted. Some proposed political marriages to foster an alliance of interest but they remain uninterested. Does anyone else have any new ideas" the speaker said.
Gu Zhi noticed some rustling as elder Ming took the stage and cleared his throat.
"*Ahem* I believe I might have a solution. As I'm sure your aware Gu Zhi and Gu Xiao finally made there way back into the sect after complications we are all aware of. They brought back some nine heavens ambrosia as a return on investment to the sect." he said while quiet mummers spread through out the hall. "Using some of this nine heavens ambrosia I think the great earth sect will relent as its a precious treasure seldom seen in the world. If we offer enough I think the sect will hand over the blue prints. Of course, Gu Zhi who is here today, has requested the clan leave some of the ambrosia to him as it would be very beneficial to his cultivation. With the success he has already shown to the clan, I think a continued investment of resources towards Gu Zhi and Gu Xiao will be beneficial" elder Ming stated before sitting down.
The speaker then took the stage again and said "I propose a vote, on the course of using the nine heavens ambrosia to be used as bribery towards the blue prints" the speaker said as the majority of people their raised their hands. Gu Zhi could instinctively tell his vote wouldn't be counted as with his distinct hearing he noticed no one in the top rows raised their hands.
"Since the majority of people are in this favor we will proceed with that course of action. Next I propose a vote to Gu Zhi retaining some of the heavens ambrosia for cultivation".
This one was a bit more contested as he could hear that some people made no moves. An indication that they voted against him by not voting in favor.
The speaker than looked around and nodded his head. "Still a majority so Gu Zhi will be allowed some nine heavens ambrosia for cultivation. Next is the continued allocation of resources towards Gu Zhi and Gu Xiao as young talents of the sect" he said.
This time Gu Zhi noticed another drop in votes and wasn't surprised at the outcome. People would let him have some nine heavens ambrosia because although they are relenting benefits for themselves it would be stupid to not let him have some. If the clan had a political environment of denying all resources until it was their turn to get resources then no one would vote for them. To get resources for one's self you had to make comprises and make allies otherwise you wouldn't get any when your time came. With Gu Zhi producing the nine heavens ambrosia himself it brought him enough merit to where the elders accepted his request as most of the elders thought it was just. Having continued resources for himself and Gu Xiao however with no events requiring a significant increase in strength was another matter. Thus when the vote came out, he lost it by a few votes.
"Seeing the majority is not in favor, the resources towards Gu Xiao and Gu Zhi will be halted until further notice. The next problem the clan has to settle is what further plans we will have going forward now that Gu Zhi and Gu Xiao has returned. Due to the bounty on Gu Zhi's head the clan has to make a decision on what to do with him" the speaker said.