Although Gu Erin said that it was time to cultivate, it was not immediate. He was only going to guide certain people, mainly the small group of people who actually had some form of innate talent. Most if not all of them were mortal grade talents, and the elites among them who had Earth grade talents were the ones Gu Erin was going to focus on.
He did not know what grade his own talents belonged to, but he assumed they were Heaven grade talents, he hoped at least. If they were a grade unknown to him it would bring some complications. The main complication being, is that he had never heard of such a thing, and he would most likely be fleeced if he asked the Heavens.
However, right now Gu Erin stored those thoughts for later. He had something far more important to do. As the major leaders gathered those who Gu Erin requested, he faced his parents and his younger sister.
His father looked incredibly angry, enough to make Gu Erin instinctively shudder but he refused to be subdued by his fatherly halo. Although his father was looking worse for wear from all his travels for business and always sitting behind the desk. Gu Erin knew that behind that sturdy physique was the power to knock the lights out of anyone who rubbed him the wrong way.
His mother on the other hand looked perfectly calm, which scared him more than his father ever could, If he looked close there was a small smile on his mother's face. That small smile was more intimidating than his father's anger. At least he could identify what he was in for, while his mother was a complete unknown.
His sister on the other hand, whom he had a good relationship since they were kids was looking at him like she didn't know who he was. That more than anything made Gu Erin feel like he had done something wrong. She had always been trying to get him a girlfriend, mainly because his past self would be too embarrassed to talk to any girl. No doubt her confusion was about her and Lucy's slight sabotage. However, he doubted it was intentional, it would be a kin to a joke in their mind.
With an internal heartfelt sigh Gu Erin found himself confronting his own family. But, he refused to be cowed.
"I know you have questions, now is the time to ask them. But, Mom, Dad, I won't be able to answer some of them." Gu Erin said firmly taking the first stand and preparing himself for a long-fought battle.
A vein on Gu Yuze's forehead twitched, while his mother only smiled wider, Gu Meng Yao's observative look turned slightly pitying.
Gu Yuze grabbed Gu Erin's shoulder, if Gu Erin wasn't a cultivator he no doubt would have winced in pain. Thankfully Gu Erin's new found vitality made Gu Yuze's grip feel inconsequential.
"First you little brat, back there, you hit me." Gu Yuze's voice was forced, like he was doing his best to not spit fire at his son.
Gu Erin waved his hand. "Not important, you helped me teach a lesson so thank you." Gu Erin smiled brightly at his father.
"Why you-"
"Well dear son of mine, I have some questions for you." Gu Chyou butted in; the calms smile still on her face. Gu Yuze frowned, but allowed his wife to take care of the brat. Although he would have beat the lesson into him. He wasn't sure anymore. When he grabbed his son, it felt like grabbing a body builder, nothing but muscle.
Gu Erin did his best to keep the smile on his face as Gu Chyou took another step forward. Not close enough to enter your personal space. However, it wasn't far enough to make one feel comfortable either.
"My dear son, please, pray tell, why you think you're forming a harem?"
Gu Chyou asked this question so normally, with the same calm smile on her face, there was absolutely no change in her expression. Everyone present, including Gu Yuze, and Gu Meng Yao all felt cold sweat form on their backs.
"Y-You see." Gu Erin cleared his throat. "I will need multiple partners to help raise my cultivation faster…"
Gu Erin's voice trailed off, as he saw that same gentle smile on Gu Chyou's face. He wanted to take a step back, but found his feet still stuck to the ground. Funny, he was a veteran of a few years, and watched his world crumble around him. Yet, he still couldn't face his mother.
"Alright." Gu Chyou nodded, as if it all made sense. Gu Erin felt a slight relief till he felt immediate dread at Gu Chyou's next question. "So, you are saying that I raised a man whore?"
Silence proceeded for a solid second as no one else dared to move during this time, their mother was very angry. Not even the previously mad Gu Yuze dare breathe at this time. If there was one thing he learned in his marriage, that was he may be the head. But, his wife controlled his happiness.
Gu Erin did his best to piece together his argument, although he was well thought out and had a stable mindset, nobody would be unaffected when so blatantly insulted by their own mother. However, as a son who had seen that same mother's death, he refused to back down, and did in his mind what was best.
"You may think ill of me mother, but I will do what I must. I cannot promise anything about my partner's either, one or two of them may stay present in my life. But, yes I will have many relationships." Gu Erin answered steadily and maintained his ground, but he could feel his chest quivering.
Gu Chyou's smile only widened before she turned around and walked away.
***
Gu Meng Yao wasn't sure what to do when her mother walked away, and her father seemed to be in the same boat, but in the end Gu Meng Yao followed her mother, and her dad followed not a second after.
Gu Meng Yao walked silently alongside her mother, who hadn't stopped smiling in quite some time. Although when they were traveling the city they had been able to talk to their mother, as soon as they mentioned her brother she turned slightly cold.
"You fucked up, big bro…" Gu Meng Yao thought.
She and her older brother have had a good relationship due to his almost abundant kindness. However, every time Gu Meng Yao has talked to or has seen Gu Erin all she felt was a cutting coldness. Like her life and the lives of those around him meant nothing. He used to have a smile on his face as he cracked jokes, now it was just an emotionless almost dead like expression. Even his smiles looked forced, and they never reached his eyes.
What was worse, when that girl Lucy had approached her to try and embarrass her brother she had agreed without second thought. Call her petty but, she wanted to get back at him. All of that wasn't the problem. The problem was that he didn't even flinch, if someone had told the Gu Erin she knew that he planned on forming a harem, he would flounder and stutter like a fish out of water.
"Meng'er!" Gu Meng Yao was broken out of her thoughts as her mother's voice called out to her.
"Y-Yes!" She squeaked in response.
"I told you to watch your brother whenever you can. Look for things out of place." Gu Chyou's voice was cold, Gu Meng Yao's core froze, hearing that tone from her mother directed towards her own brother.
However, when she looked to get support from her father all she saw was a hardened frown. It seems she was outnumbered here. With a shaky nod Gu Meng Yao agreed to keep an eye on her older brother, on orders of her mother.
***
Gu Erin was still recovering from his conversation with his family, and he equally knew that was not the last conversation he would have either. Unless he managed to get the Temple of the Heavens to himself again he would have to keep the secret of his regression to himself.
However, this was a future Gu Erin problem. Right now, he had a different problem on his hands. Before him was a group of about forty or so people. These were the strongest talents in the group, at worst every one of these people have a Mortal grade spirit root. So, in Gu Erin's eyes, some of these people were just above trash, while others had good potential.
Gu Erin in his past life, had realized the difference between Earth and Mortal Grade himself, it was like the immensity between the Heavens and the Earth. That single grade represented ten times the potential in difference between the two. For now, these were his elites, and hopefully, he would have the ability to have far reaching influence to bring in more talent.
Without any further thought Gu Erin addressed the small crowd. "I'm going to lead you all to become stronger, so that you can become a cultivator. The First Realm the Blood Transforming Realm is pretty simple compared to others."
"However, there is a catch." Gu Erin saw the crowd shuffle uneasily and continued. "You all need to decide on how much of your body you wish to refine. You can refine the following in this order, not following the order might lead to your death so listen closely."
"You will all at least refine your blood. If you are driven you will also refine your organs after that. Now this is where your path gets a bit more complicated, because time is not on your side. If you have two mortal grade talents I recommend you refine your bones after your organs. If you have three mortal grade talents or one earth grade talent you should consider refining your muscles after your bones."
"If you have an Earth grade talent and a mortal grade talent go on to refine your nerves as well. Finally, if you have more or of higher quality talents than what I've mentioned you can refine your brain."
Silence befell the group, as they all looked at Gu Erin like deer caught in headlights, Gu Erin knew then that this was going to be a long night.